Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has worsened since his last VA audiological examination in May 2015, and he should be afforded a new examination to accurately assess the current level of impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has not yet made a decision on the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient information from a VA examiner. The Veteran's symptoms of hearing loss since separation are noted, and a supplemental VA opinion is needed to determine if the condition is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetic retinopathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral cataracts have been dismissed as the evidence does not support a finding of service connection on any basis.,Service connection has been granted for unspecified depressive disorder secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The appeal for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.,Ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression as secondary to bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied, and the petition to reopen his claim for tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was previously rated at 40 percent, but the AOJ reduced this rating to 20 percent. The Board has determined that the reduction was improper and has reinstated the original 40 percent rating.

The Board previously denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Court has now remanded the case due to deficiencies in the August 2011 VA examination opinion and inconsistencies between the opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted effective May 9, 2016. The RO also granted SMC and DEA benefits at that time.,Prior to this decision, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for earlier effective dates as his service-connected disabilities did not warrant such an award.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not render him totally unemployable.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a compensable initial rating prior to July 17, 2017, and in excess of 70 percent on and after July 17, 2017, for residuals of TBI have all been dismissed due to the Veteran's requests to withdraw these appeals.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate examination, particularly regarding noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective from May 25, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 2, 2011. The Board denied the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. Additional evidence will be requested, and a VA audiologist will provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board found no evidence linking his heart condition to his active duty service or any potential exposure to herbicides while stationed at Korat RTAFB.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.