Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for a new opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ear hearing loss disability is denied as he does not have current hearing loss. The claim for a compensable evaluation for his left ear hearing loss disability is also denied due to the lack of evidence showing worsening since the last examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbosacral spine disability (DDD/DJD), right hip strain, and left hip strain to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied it on the merits. The Veteran was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss in May 2018, but there is no evidence of a chronic disease or injury during service that could be linked to his current condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the January 2004 rating decision. However, the issue is remanded as it requires additional development including an examination by a VA clinician.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, with the hearing loss being granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to loud noise during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the Veteran's claims for right foot disability, left foot disability, sinusitis, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for urinary tract infection and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of ptosis (eye drop) service connection, right knee surgery rating, and migraine headaches ratings.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, cervical spine disability, thoracic spine disability, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities of the lower extremities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for asthma (shortness of breath), as additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's condition was caused by or related to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and other ear disorders. The remaining issues are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but granted restoration of ratings for right shoulder disability and back disability. The Veteran's current hearing loss was not shown to have had its onset during a period of active service or within one year following his separation from service in either 1967 or 2003.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for updated medical records and a VA audiology examination. The service connection for prostate cancer is stayed until further notice.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with levels I and II in each ear.,Tinnitus was not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it manifested within one year after separation from active service or being related to the service-connected hearing loss.,PTSD was not found to be service-connected because there is no evidence of its occurrence during service, and continuity of symptomatology could not be established.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as non-compensable prior to October 30, 2015 and increased to 10 percent from October 30, 2015 to May 16, 2019. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not shown to be of such nature and severity as to render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation as of June 1, 2008.