Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding left ear hearing loss disability and SMC for his spouse's need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability of right ear sensorineural hearing loss and the left ear hearing loss is not related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has restored special monthly compensation at the housebound rate for the Veteran, finding that the RO's September 2013 decision granting SMC was not based on clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disabilities, neurologic disabilities and tremors of the right upper extremity, neck disability, hypertension, and left ankle disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. Service connections for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, chronic pain syndrome, gastritis, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation for the Veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine disability, right and left shoulder disabilities, radiculopathy of the upper right extremity, thoracic strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran is permanently housebound by reason of these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board has also determined that additional VA examinations are needed to address the Veteran's service connection claims.,The Veteran is being asked to provide more information regarding his in-service injuries, as well as any private treatment records from P.L., LCSW, and Dr. T.O.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD related to his active duty service, including incidents on the flight deck and witnessing injured servicemen. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and its impact on his claimed conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to his military service and is more likely due to natural aging.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to concerns about the adequacy of the April 2019 VA examination and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for various conditions due to new evidence and exposure claims. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is reopened but the AOJ must obtain additional medical records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides or other toxins.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a current disability in each case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service.