Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and low back syndrome, caused him to be substantially confined to his dwelling and immediate premises. However, the need for aid and attendance was not due solely to these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination for hearing loss and tinnitus. The issues of service connection are still under consideration.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple conditions and theories of causation, including service connection for various disabilities allegedly related to poisoning during service. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule appropriate VA examinations, and consider the Veteran's claims in light of his reported exposures.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that his combined disability rating is significant enough to preclude him from maintaining such employment.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case as he is deceased.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing impairment.

The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as both conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially related to a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board finds service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and visual disorders are not related to service, including as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis residuals.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated as 10 percent disabling since June 7, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran had at least three to six non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis per year characterized by headaches, pain, and purulent discharge or crusting, warranting a 10 percent rating.

The Board has restored the Veteran's original 80 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and denied entitlement to increased ratings or TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to diabetes mellitus. The decision is vacated as a result of an August 2017 Informal Hearing Presentation (IHP) being omitted from the claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, but further examination is needed to determine if it originated during service or within one year post-service. For PTSD, a VA examination is required to assess whether any currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that reopening of the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is warranted, and that granting of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is in order.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for the issues of higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for dental disorder for VA compensation purposes, bilateral eye disability (including cataracts and normal tension glaucoma), kidney disability (including kidney stones), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The appeals are all denied as not supported by evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss and Parkinson's disease are found to be related to his active service, with the latter being presumed due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for service connection will be adjudicated again after obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist.