Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is now granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and potentially relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee; left ear hearing loss; and post-operative residuals, right ear, with membrane patch are being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, and the Board has ordered additional development to determine if his hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between his current condition and active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Issues regarding bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and right wrist disability are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's tinnitus and ischemic heart disease are granted service connection, while the bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining missing military personnel records and SSA records. The Veteran must also be afforded a new VA examination.

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

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's skin rash is granted as service-connected, but the respiratory disability and kidney disability claims are dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension claim has been withdrawn. The right ear hearing loss claim remains on appeal and is denied as the evidence does not support a compensable rating.,The chronic lumbosacral strain with left lower rib cage strain, right knee disability prior to February 4, 2016, and splenectomy claims are remanded for further development.,The left knee disability claim remains on appeal and is also remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of objective medical evidence supporting a diagnosis. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding physician-prescribed bed rest during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation as the previous VA examinations are inadequate due to low speech recognition scores.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was dismissed as he withdrew his claim.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, with the condition that it began during active service and is not due to a service-connected disability.,From October 4, 2016, the Veteran is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities (PTSD and tinnitus).,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer was remanded as it involves exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos.,Service connection for equilibrium problems was also remanded due to its potential secondary relationship with hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection for fear of heights was also remanded, likely due to its potential secondary relationship with hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues including rating claims, TDIU claim, and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability is rated at a compensable level, and he has been granted TDIU effective July 17, 2018. The hearing loss claim was denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus, along with his in-service noise exposure, supports a finding of service connection. However, the matter of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient audiometric data at 3000 Hz.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss disability may be related to noise exposure during military service.