Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the April 2017 VA examination. The Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis is granted as related to asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence established a direct link between the Veteran's active duty service and his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and consideration due to incomplete reasoning in the previous VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The Board noted that the Veteran had normal hearing at entry into service but experienced some hearing loss by separation, which was not considered significant enough to be attributed to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and there is no evidence of a threshold shift in his hearing during active military service. For left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, the Board found credible the Veteran's statements about their onset during service and awarded service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral ear disorder, specifically hearing loss. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current ear disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for an increase rating above 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) and for a compensable initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, BHL, tinnitus, DM, HTN, and neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, were denied as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or a nexus to service.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no nexus between the disabilities and active duty service.

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 nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee condition and remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence.

Service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The claim for service connection for otosclerosis of the right ear with hearing loss (status post stapedectomy) is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, right wrist disability, and cervical spine disability as there is no evidence that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to or as a consequence of acute myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, is related to his service-connected conditions. The Board found the opinion provided by the VA provider to be probative in determining that the Veteran’s service-connected physical and mental disabilities contributed to the development of coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not aggravated during active service, and the claim for this condition is denied.,Tinnitus was shown in active service and has been subsequently manifested, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disorder, bilateral eye disorder, hemorrhoids, and lipoma throat surgery residuals with scarring due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran must provide releases for any additional care providers who may possess new or additional evidence pertinent to his claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining claims, including those related to Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and its associated disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs a new VA examination by an otolaryngologist to determine if his current hearing loss is related to service.