Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for Multiple Sclerosis and Bilateral Hearing Loss, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The left knee residual effects of torn ligaments/injury issue is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic conditions related to these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring another VA audiology examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's petition for re-adjudication of his claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than December 17, 2018 for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.,Entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The VA examiner did not adequately discuss whether the measured differentials in threshold shifts could constitute evidence of an in-service injury that may be a precursor to the Veteran’s current right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. The Board found that the Veteran does not have an anatomical loss, blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, is not permanently bedridden due to a service-connected disability, nor is he so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is determined to be caused by noise exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right tympanic membrane perforation and chronic suppurative otitis media are granted a higher 10 percent rating, while his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and remanded other issues related to hearing loss, foot disabilities, and spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for malaria and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded for further evaluation.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The case of service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no persuasive evidence that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the presumption under the PACT Act as the Veteran had noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a separate rating of 10% for symptomatic residuals of removal of semilunar cartilage of the right knee (meniscectomy) prior to August 10, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, heart disability (claimed as CAD with myocardial infarction), hepatitis C, lumbar spine disability, left foot injury, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy were not found to have onset during service or be related to service.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was not found to have onset during service and is not otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been granted. The bilateral hearing loss disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claims have been remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection is denied for the gastrointestinal, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea conditions as they are inextricably intertwined with the acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss as there are conflicting audiological findings and a need for further examination.