Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to in-service noise exposure. The examiner was requested to address the progression of puretone threshold results as service went on, including into Reserve service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The current ratings of 50%, 60%, and 70% are not sufficient to meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of a compensable disability during the appeal period.,Service connection for a cervical spine disability was denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and insufficient continuity of symptoms since service. The examiner will be asked to provide an addendum opinion regarding this issue.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for vision problems, bilateral hearing loss disability, and skin disorder due to insufficient evidence or lack of examination.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, but remanded the issue of service connection for detached retina in the right eye.,Service connection will be further evaluated on a separate basis for the detached retina.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability at the time of his claims and there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied a compensable rating prior to June 25, 2019 and a higher than 40 percent rating thereafter.,The Veteran's spondylolysis L-5 with low back strain, levoscoliosis and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) disability was granted a 10 percent rating from March 1, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran experienced symptoms of high frequency sensorineural hearing loss during active service and these symptoms have continued since discharge from service. The Board also found that there was a shift in hearing from the August 1965 separation exam to the March 1969 separation exam at the 3000 and 4000 Hz level, supporting the conclusion that the Veteran's hearing loss worsened during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to her active duty service and granted her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, as it only results in Level I hearing impairment in both ears.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of current disability. The claim for low back strain has been remanded due to the need for further examination.,Service connection for low back strain has been granted with a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, difficulty swallowing (throat condition), and degenerative disc disease lumbar spine due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is denied as the VA did not receive a properly filed formal claim prior to May 27, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS, and 5th metatarsal fracture was denied. The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing impairment is at least as likely caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are at least as likely as not incurred in service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, to include secondary to tinnitus, hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal was also remanded for additional examinations related to total disability rating based on individual unemployability and special monthly compensation due to need for aid and attendance.