Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss due to new VA treatment records being added to the record. The Veteran did not respond within the required time frame to waive AOJ review of these records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) during which he was exposed to noise from cannon fire and rifles. The decision also acknowledges that the Veteran had normal hearing at separation but did not receive a discharge examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 10 percent rating for his bilateral hearing loss, effective December 1, 2016. The evidence did not support restoration of this rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, OSA, and CVA were denied. The effective date of the grant of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not filed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted, and a rating of 10 percent is assigned for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, but the rating for his hearing loss remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and right ear hearing loss disability have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetes mellitus, render him unemployable from June 1, 2015 to June 11, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made. The appeals for right upper extremity neurologic disorder, left upper extremity neurologic disorder, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 0% from August 2, 2013 to December 17, 2018. From December 17, 2018, the Veteran is now rated at 40%. The rating decision grants a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as related to service due to noise exposure.,Bilateral knee osteoarthritis is also granted, with the condition being linked to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss may have worsened since his last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development as there appear to be relevant treatment records that may substantiate the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD prior to January 9, 2018. A higher rating is denied. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent beginning January 9, 2018.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires further examination and evaluation due to incomplete medical records and conflicting opinions regarding the onset and cause of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and type II diabetes mellitus were not shown to have had their onset during service or be otherwise related to service.,Service connection for the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service that resulted in current hearing loss. The Board found that the Veteran's assertions regarding noise exposure during service are not credible, and his claim based on presumptive service connection was also denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service that resulted in current tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran's assertions regarding noise exposure during service are not credible, and his claim based on presumptive service connection was also denied.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury in service that resulted in current diabetes. The Board found that the Veteran's claims based on Agent Orange exposure were not supported by available evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder manifests in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, was granted. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were reopened due to new evidence received since the prior denial in November 1990.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and UTI, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.