Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The appeal of the denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to a prior final Board decision that denied the claim, and any subsequent CUE claims are not allowed.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss disability meets the criteria for service connection as defined by 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and will readjudicate the issue of service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and bilateral elbow, wrist, and hand conditions are pending further examination and opinion. The Board finds that a remand is warranted for another VA examination and medical opinions to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the audiometric evaluations did not show a compensable level of impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and hearing loss, as there are insufficient opinions regarding whether his pre-existing conditions were aggravated by service or if his current disabilities warrant an initial compensable rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The case for service connection of headaches, however, needs further examination due to lack of a recent VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, back, and hearing loss disabilities have rendered him unemployable in the context of his education, training, and prior work experience. The Board has granted a TDIU throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing that these conditions are etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including outdated VA examination results and missing audiometric testing records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his hearing loss, which he contends was caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records, pay stubs from his National Guard service, and a comprehensive VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The initial compensable rating claim for left ear hearing loss is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied initially, but new evidence was submitted reopening the claims. The Board found that while the Veteran did not meet VA criteria for a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, she has been diagnosed with tinnitus related to her military service. Therefore, the claim for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and coronary artery disease, status post coronary artery bypass graft, are granted. The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to exposure to hazardous noise during his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a VA medical examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service, including his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective from December 30, 2012, but not earlier, through May 12, 2016. The decision relates back to the date of his claim for service connection for CAD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted after the case was transferred to the Board. The Veteran requested that his case be remanded and not reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The VA needs to obtain additional evidence and provide a new opinion from an otolaryngologist.