Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, diabetes mellitus (type II), prostate disability (secondary to herbicide exposure), lung disability, and initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder have been granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is February 9, 2012, while the effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are May 9, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD or pain from his other disabilities caused or aggravated his heart disease, which was the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disability to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues related to CUE in previous rating decisions, and the current appeal is considered inextricably intertwined with these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals, cuboid fracture of left foot and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active service. However, further examination is needed as the current evidence does not reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right wrist disability and remanded the remaining issues. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, and continuity of symptoms could not be established. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain unresolved.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for rheumatoid arthritis of the knees, heart disease, nephropathy (claimed as bilateral kidneys), and neuropathy of upper and lower extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD, which alone renders him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board has determined that these conditions are related to his noise exposure during active duty service, and thus grants service connection for both disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, and the case is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss needs to be re-evaluated due to the inconsistency in speech recognition ability results. The RO must obtain new VA examination records and schedule a new one for an appropriate clinician to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, including obtaining a modified performance intensity function if necessary.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The initial disability rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent prior to January 19, 2017, and increases to 70 percent from that date forward.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left ear hearing loss, a respiratory condition (including bronchitis), sarcoidosis, and heart disease (including systolic murmur, grade 1 over aortic valve) due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's current bilateral tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are granted as service connected. The issue of aggravation of pre-existing right ear hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.,The Veteran’s claims for TBI, left thumb, ring, and little finger disabilities, lumbosacral spine disability, migraines associated with TBI, residual scars from TBI, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and service connection for residuals of left ulnar nerve transposition in the left arm are remanded.

The appeals regarding the rating reduction for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a higher disability rating are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.