Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he has not provided sufficient information about his employment status.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee disorders are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional records and a new VA examination. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Veteran's diabetes is also granted as secondary to his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for sleep apnea is also denied, with the examiner finding that it is not related to military service and likely due to obesity. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied as there is no evidence of greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides, complete obstruction on one side, or nasal polyps.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 10 percent since September 27, 2005. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date and after it has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in 1982, but reopened on October 31, 2007. The Board found no basis to grant an earlier effective date than the reopening of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if he should be granted a separate rating for dizziness associated with his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether Meniere's disease is part of the disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The decision is pending further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's otitis media with bilateral hearing loss has worsened since the last VA examination in August 2012. The Board is remanding the case to schedule a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knee replacements, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral hearing loss, make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for small chip fracture of the left middle finger has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal on hearing loss, PTSD, and knee issues was dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were withdrawn. Service connection was granted for tinnitus, but the Veteran is not entitled to a compensable evaluation for his depressive disorder due to lack of evidence on aggravation. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining his service medical records and considering all relevant evidence. The Veteran's current disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to an inadequate August 2015 medical examination. The case will be returned for a new opinion that addresses all claimed in-service events, including lifting boxes and MVA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cholesteatoma, right knee disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and low back disability all claimed as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board is requesting additional VA and private treatment records to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status. The issues of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are also pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, DM II, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral hearing loss, render him unemployable. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.