Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD were granted with effective dates of August 12, 2008. The Board found no legal basis to grant earlier effective dates.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective date are remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability.,Service connection was granted for traumatic brain injury and associated cervicogenic muscle contraction headaches with an effective date of June 16, 2015.

The Board has remanded three claims for service connection due to the Veteran's reported SSD disability benefits, which may contain relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 14, 2014, was denied as his hearing acuity did not warrant a higher than 50 percent rating. The claims for ratings of 20 and 40 percent from March 14, 2014, to March 17, 2016, and from March 18, 2016, to September 20, 2018, were also denied as his hearing acuity did not warrant a higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Specifically, the VA examiner found the audiometric test results unreliable and suspected malingering. The Veteran’s STRs did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to hearing loss or tinnitus during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development regarding exposure to non-ionizing radiation and a need for an addendum advisory opinion from the Under Secretary of Health.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability, which is related to service exposure to combat noise trauma.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board finds the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depressive disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and further investigation. The effective dates for service connection are not being granted earlier than August 22, 2016.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The Board found that his hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, low back condition, left hip condition, left knee condition, cholecystitis (gallbladder condition), and GERD. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of service connection remain pending and will be remanded to further develop the evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria, and the evidence does not establish an in-service disease or injury that caused or aggravated a current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to acoustic trauma during combat.,The Veteran’s scar associated with postoperative left knee meniscectomy does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin condition affecting the left foot, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no credible evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted.,The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded as it is intertwined with the rating decision on the left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no nexus between his current hearing loss and an in-service injury, event, or disease. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service.