Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney cancer and spinal cancer, are remanded due to the need for additional medical records.,A decision on the issue of entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of both feet is inextricably intertwined with a decision on the issue of entitlement to service connection for paralysis from the chest down.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is found to have started during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since June 29, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to his hearing acuity levels.

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 military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the conditions were at least as likely as not due to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The hearing loss claim will be addressed with a new VA examination, the PTSD claim will require a VA psychiatric examination, and the gastritis claim requires an updated VA examination focusing on all underlying conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on four conditions (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure) have been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or housebound status, as determined by VA examination. The Board finds that his non-service connected COPD is the primary cause of these needs.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, and service connection for erectile dysfunction disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 14, 2018 for a rating of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s hearing loss worsened prior to this date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing that his current left ear hearing loss is related to service. The Board also found no aggravation of pre-existing right ear hearing loss during service.,The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding its onset and cause.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that it was not shown to be related to his in-service noise exposure and did not manifest within a year of discharge.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with a puretone threshold average of 57.5 dB and speech discrimination score of 80%. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evaluations do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition (including post-traumatic stress disorder) is found to be related to in-service stressors.,There is no current diagnosis of vertigo, so the claim must be denied.,The right shoulder disability and hepatitis C are not service-connected due to lack of evidence indicating a connection to service.,Headaches are not service-connected as there is no indication that they were aggravated by service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The decision is based on direct service connection due to in-service noise exposure.