Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia and bilateral hearing loss do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, so his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected PTSD.,Evidence received since the October 2002 rating decision relates to a previously unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several conditions and issues, including increased ratings for TBI and migraine headaches, service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, a left knee condition, hearing loss, cataracts, diabetes (secondary to service-connected disability), an increased rating for other specified depressive disorder, and entitlement to individual unemployability prior to February 8, 2012. The appeals are dismissed.

The Board previously denied a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, but the Court remanded it due to insufficient consideration of a recent VA examination. The case is now being sent back to the RO for reconsideration.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted based on the reasonable doubt in his favor regarding its onset during service.,The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome are both granted, with the latter being considered part of the former due to overlapping symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, as well as his claims for SMC based on housebound criteria or aid and attendance, and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with his earlier effective date claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD. Therefore, these issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus are rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that these conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to their combined rating being less than 70% and there is no evidence of unemployability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine sprain, and left shoulder sprain due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient development of evidence, particularly regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms can be separately attributed to his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for residuals of enterococcus, to include chronic diarrhea. Service connection is remanded for hearing loss, low back condition, skin condition, and respiratory condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, anxiety disorder, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss due to new evidence or further medical evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has restored service connection for hearing loss of the left ear, but denied service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran should be provided another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure in service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not considered related to his military service.

Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including depressive and anxiety disorders, is granted.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy, headaches, hearing loss, and tinnitus are all denied. Service connection for degenerative disc disease is granted with a rating of 50 percent effective from April 5, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from February 14, 2008 to December 25, 2012 was denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, right leg L4-L5 rami-irritability (claimed as secondary to a low back disability), and depression due to incomplete records and lack of medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for asthma and an acquired psychiatric disorder, due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's cervical spine and back disabilities are also being examined as they may be related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.