Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder is remanded due to new evidence received since the last statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee strain is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including any noise exposure during ACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service. The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for thyroid cancer and denied his claims for service connection for left ear disorder, low back disorder, prostate disorder, and urinary frequency.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since July 6, 2006. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date, along with an effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits of the same date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer is granted, as supported by a July 2019 opinion linking the condition to his military service. Service connection is also granted for neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities secondary to bladder cancer treatment. The appeal related to increased ratings for PTSD, sleep apnea, CAD scars, and diabetes mellitus remains pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for impaired hearing as defined by VA regulations, and therefore service connection is denied.

The appeal of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Tinnitus service connection is granted, and the issue of acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure, and the medical evidence does not support a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, effective April 11, 2018. The appeal has been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 11, 2018. Effective from July 11, 2018, the Veteran is in receipt of a 100% schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the audiometric test results, which do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was shown in service, and there have been subsequent manifestations during the appeal period. The Board finds that service connection for the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is warranted under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not related to service, leading to a denial of these claims. The Board has also determined that further examination is needed for the claim of bilateral hearing loss due to exposure to acoustic trauma in service.