Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 20 percent since February 26, 2013. The Board found no evidence to warrant a higher rating for the period from February 26, 2013 to April 14, 2016 and from April 14, 2016 to June 29, 2016. For the period from June 29, 2016, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but dismissed the application to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore denied his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus were granted service connection. The Board found that the preexisting conditions worsened during service due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD and associated disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, obstructive sleep apnea, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The July 26, 2011 rating decision granting service connection was not found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The remaining issues, including PTSD, sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, back disability, skin cancer, and kidney stones (claimed as kidney stones), are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted the Appellant's application to reopen her claim for service connection of the Veteran’s death, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence showing that his hearing loss or PTSD was a contributing cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and TBI are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 20% to noncompensable, but the Board restored the 20% rating effective October 1, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to incomplete examinations and new evidence received. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is being remanded for a VA examination, and his bronchitis rating is also being remanded for updated treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service, except for PTSD with MDD which was granted effective July 2, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while the claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, and complex regional pain syndrome due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Right knee arthritis, patellafemoral syndrome, left knee arthritis, and right ankle arthritis are all granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his most recent VA examination showed level IV hearing impairment in both ears, which corresponds to a 10% disability rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as they are not adequately addressed in the current record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his active military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left elbow disability, other than ulnar nerve entrapment, was denied. The appeals for the right ring finger disability, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral knee disability were remanded. Service connection for a jaw disability is also pending.