Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded three issues: initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right knee, and service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left knee. A new VA examination is required to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and to assess whether his DJD of the knees was caused by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are considered at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for a heart condition, prostate cancer, and skin cancer are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's 60% disability rating for coronary artery disease is restored, and he is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

Your appeals have been dismissed as you requested withdrawal of your claims for service connection and an increased rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic disease manifestation within a year of service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have significant threshold shifts during service and his current conditions are less likely related to such exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for varicose veins and bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae and hearing loss have been denied. The left ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and psychiatric disability (excluding PTSD) are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not occur during his active duty and there is no evidence of noise exposure that could have caused the condition.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran reported experiencing tinnitus since military service, but VA examiners determined it was less likely related to noise exposure in service.

The appeal of the denial of an increased rating for hearing loss is dismissed.,The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for low back disability, left eye disability, and skin disability are granted. Service connection for left eye disability is also granted.,Entitlement to service connection for depressive disorder, vascular disease including hypertension, Raynaud's syndrome, headaches, low back disability, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and a compensable rating for right forehead scar are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss has worsened since his last VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's TMJ disorder was first manifested during service and is related to military service, thus granting service connection.,ED resulting from PTSD-TBI is also granted as secondary to the service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and denied service connection for lymphoma and ischemic heart disease. The decision on the issue of service connection for lymphoma is based on the Veteran's lay statements, while the decision on the issue of service connection for ischemic heart disease is not provided.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to July 26, 2018 was denied. The claim for a higher rating for PTSD from July 26, 2018 forward is also denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back condition were reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder, including somatic symptoms disorder, and whether it is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and his military service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence and provide a new VA medical opinion.