Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10 percent rating effective October 5, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support an even higher rating or any compensable rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected due to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.,The Veteran's near continuous thirst is not considered a separate disability for compensation purposes and thus denied.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression, mood disturbances, anger, and panic attacks and therefore not separately service-connected.,The Veteran's left arm disability remains in dispute and requires further examination and evidence.,The Veteran's sleep disability (specifically sleep apnea) is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology, including consideration of herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's prostate disability and left-hand skin disability are both remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiologies, including consideration of herbicide exposure during service.,reasoning_summary

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The prostate cancer claim is remanded as verification of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA periods is needed. The inextricably intertwined psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a need for an addendum opinion on coronary artery disease. The claims are not granted at this time.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), transient ischemia attack (TIA), stroke, headaches, or PTSD. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic low back condition, left knee status post meniscectomy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied because the schedular criteria were not met, and there is no evidence of an extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria was denied, and the Board found that he is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable level of 10 percent. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to potential issues with the VA medical opinion provided.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for schizoaffective disorder is granted, with the onset during active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his preexisting left ear hearing loss did not worsen during service and that there was no right ear hearing loss within one year after service. The Board also found that the Veteran's statements regarding the etiology of his hearing loss were not competent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, right hip condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's depressive disorder was rated at 30%.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left and right thigh disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, and GERD. The remaining issues are pending further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent, the highest available rating under VA guidelines. The Board found that his current hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for PTSD, otitis externa and perforated tympanic membrane, hearing loss, and tinnitus need to be remanded due to inadequate examination reports and lack of consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss due to inadequate opinions regarding whether his pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service, and because of a lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and ratings for various conditions, including alopecia areata, bilateral hearing loss, a scar on the left third finger, eczema of the feet, and herpes simplex II virus. The appeal is not about service connection at all.