Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a prostate disability due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's National Guard service records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, and therefore he does not qualify for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his active duty service, including noise exposure. The onset of both conditions occurred decades after separation from service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective date and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss as new evidence submitted after the January 2014 rating decision was not relevant to these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been denied as she does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right elbow injury, left big toe injury, right knee arthritis, and right wrist injury are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is also remanded as the VA examiner did not consider whether her hearing loss was aggravated during a period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist violation. The AOJ must obtain and associate with the record any relevant private and military base treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The CUE aspect of the claim has not yet been addressed by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and that the Veteran did not have a left ear hearing loss disability at any time during or recent to the filing of his claim.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and an initial evaluation for a stressor-related disorder. The issues include heart disorders, bilateral hearing loss, back problems, laryngeal cancer, lymph node cancer, and a stressor-related disorder. Additional evidence is needed from VA and private sources.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development and adjudication regarding his increased rating claims for pulmonary asbestosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. However, additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the hearing loss is directly related to service or secondary to diabetes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are being remanded for further examination to determine the nature of his psychiatric disability, specifically whether he has a diagnosis of PTSD related to fear of hostile military action or terrorist activity.

The Veteran's initial increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hallux valgus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to in-service noise exposure or military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, as the evidence shows a current disability and an in-service injury or disease related to this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection was granted for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to military service. The case needs further examination and a new medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including acne vulgaris, left knee disability, callosities of the feet, and left ear hearing loss. The back disability issue is also being remanded for further examination and opinion.