Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and concerns raised in his brief. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA treatment records, adjudicate the referred issue of service connection for Meniere's Disease, and schedule a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology, particularly due to an erroneous finding in the VA examination. The Veteran will need a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a right leg disability was granted. However, the claim of service connection for this condition is denied.,Service connection for PTSD and tinnitus were both denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service stressors.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied due to lack of audiometric testing showing a hearing loss disability.,Service connection for left foot disability was denied because the Veteran did not present any nexus evidence connecting her symptoms to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and a perforated right eardrum residual condition due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple bilateral renal, carotid cysts due to Camp Lejeune water contamination. The other conditions were denied as not related to service.

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

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective September 21, 2011. The issue of radiculopathy associated with this condition is also remanded.,Service connection for left knee disorder and right ankle disorder are both denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, headaches, sleep disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson disease, circulatory disability, gastroesophageal disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities has been granted. The claims for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, bilateral upper extremity frostbite residuals, bilateral lower extremity frostbite residuals, bilateral foot disability, skin disability, and service connection for a lumbar spine disability have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left and right knee conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), finding that the evidence did not establish a nexus to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied because he failed to appear at the scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is denied, and his left ear hearing loss claim is also denied as he does not have a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but his painful right wrist condition is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted as of February 7, 2019. A higher rating is denied from March 7, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have left ear hearing loss aggravated by his active service, and his right ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable under VA criteria.

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 link between current hearing loss or tinnitus and in-service noise exposure. The case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated at 90 percent, but the Board found that he does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected condition.