Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, a higher initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right ear hearing loss, which he claims was caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the lack of valid audiometric testing for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's subjective reports and intermittent nature of his hearing loss need to be considered in a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's in-service diagnoses and exposure, as well as a lack of discussion regarding his July 1968 service treatment records indicating potential noise exposure. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder strain, right knee arthritis, and hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since September 11, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of his bilateral eye disability claim. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a sleep disorder, and various other conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development of records and for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to his active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issue of service connection for a prostate disorder, including as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination to determine if his prostate disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to any incident of his active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, thoracic and lumbar strain with IVDS, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and bipolar disorder with anxiety disorder have all been denied. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for tendonitis, bilateral pes planus, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted.,The Veteran is entitled to service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, skin condition, lung and/or breathing condition, left knee injury, right knee injury, cardiovascular problems (formerly claimed as heart problems), and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. However, the claim is still denied as there is no probative evidence showing a link between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus from October 2, 2013 is denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for chronic headaches has been granted. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disorder due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The remaining issues have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD. The effective date remains to be determined as the claim was previously denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding when the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset during her active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of chronic left ear hearing loss during his first period of active duty and that it did not manifest to a compensable degree within a presumptive period. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and service.