Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military noise exposure during his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The left ear hearing loss disability case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was aggravated by in-service noise exposure. The VA must provide a new opinion on this issue.

From February 14, 2013 to February 19, 2014, the Veteran received a 70% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.,From June 30, 2015 to May 30, 2019, the Veteran received a 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.,From May 31, 2019 forward, the Veteran received a 20% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, tonsillitis, and tinea pedis have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for fatigue has also been denied because it is considered a symptom of an underlying condition (depression, anemia, or sleep apnea).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not aggravated during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss is reinstated as his condition did not show improvement that reflected an improvement in the ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the left ear, finding that there is a balance of evidence supporting the claim and considering the Veteran's credible assertions of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence in their current evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military noise exposure.,The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new and material evidence received since the last final denial.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus is stayed due to the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding it as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition. The other issues remain remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence submitted since the July 2002 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, specifically from the April 2013 audiological examination. The Veteran needs a VA medical examination to clarify these findings and determine if his current hearing loss disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, tension headaches, and hypertension as due to a bilateral knee disability. The effective date for the increased rating of 100 percent for right ear hearing loss is set at January 22, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been manifested by auditory acuity no worse than Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, with no exceptional hearing loss pattern shown in either ear. The criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinea pedis with tinea corporis is granted a 10% rating, effective from June 5, 2017. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains on appeal and requires further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.