Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for bilateral tinnitus was granted, with a positive nexus opinion provided by a private audiologist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. The claims were decided on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is dismissed as he withdrew the issue from appeal.,Service connection for left and right knee conditions, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome, is granted due to continuity of symptomatology since service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorder with alcohol dependence, is granted based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and a current diagnosis of PTSD.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury is granted due to a documented in-service skull fracture.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not onset in service or within one year of his discharge and is not related to service.,There is no evidence of a current respiratory disability, and the Board finds that any such condition is not related to service.,Service connection for heart disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition and none was found to be related to service.,The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected as it did not onset in service or within one year of his discharge and is not related to service.,The bilateral knee disability is not service-connected as the Veteran has no current diagnosis and there is no evidence linking any condition to service.,Service connection for arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition and none was found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss disability was dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was also dismissed, but the initial rating for PTSD is granted at 70 percent. The appeal for service connection of back disorder (trapezius strain) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability and the evidence does not establish a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and any present hearing impairment.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not incurred or aggravated during service, and the Board denied his claim. The cases for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service. However, it denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding there is no evidence of its onset during service.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss, but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information from a private audiological examination conducted in February 2013. The Veteran needs to provide consent for release of records from M. Clinic and W.B.A.M.C.

The Veteran's kidney disability, bilateral hearing loss, heart disability (coronary artery disease), and peripheral vascular disease claims have been withdrawn. The skin cancer claim has been remanded for further review.,Service connection for the Veteran’s heart disability and peripheral vascular disease due to ionizing radiation exposure is denied as these conditions are not considered radiogenic diseases.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new medical examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's hearing loss and whether hypercusis is a symptom or separate disorder caused by the hearing loss. The Veteran must also provide any outstanding VA and non-VA medical records related to his audiological disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation for residuals of fractured right orbital lobe, finding no current disability for bilateral hearing loss and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between left ear hearing loss and military service.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, but denied both claims as there is no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 30, 2014. The claim for a TDIU prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for additional audiometric testing and an examination.

The appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The low back disorder issue has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss disability prior to March 13, 2015, and for bilateral hearing loss disability thereafter. A new audiometric examination is needed due to the passage of time since the last audiogram.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,PTSD is granted as service-connected based on the Veteran's reported symptoms.