Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI has been reopened, but the issue of remanding it remains unresolved.,PTSD was granted with an initial rating of 70% from May 7, 2013 to September 16, 2015. However, a higher rating is denied starting September 17, 2015.

The Veteran's tinnitus service connection claim was granted with an effective date of March 8, 2016. However, his request for a higher rating and earlier effective date were denied.,His bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as zero percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted based on new evidence submitted after the May 2008 denial.,Service connection for OSA and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset in service.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent from July 8, 2009 to March 26, 2012, and in excess of 50 percent as of March 27, 2012, for anxiety disorder NOS is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his condition.,Service connection for a heart condition is remanded due to its potential impact on the hypertension claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to unclear audiometric testing results. The Veteran needs to provide clarification from their private medical providers regarding whether the Maryland CNC word list was used during their audiological tests in August 2016 and 2018.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as it was incurred in service due to exposure to noise during deployment.,The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is granted as it is considered a continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, sore muscles (now claimed as fibromyalgia), gastrointestinal disability, and joints disability have been granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma, meeting the criteria for service connection.,Service connection is granted for OSA secondary to PTSD and headaches secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, alcohol use disorder secondary to PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic fatigue have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise with respect to the Veteran’s PTSD claim, granting service connection. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that there was a link between current symptoms and the in-service stressors, granting service connection. However, for his chronic fatigue claim, the Board noted insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected disabilities or other factors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for granting service connection.,Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure and no medical opinion linking current symptoms to service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disorder is denied as less likely related to service.,Service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure during Vietnam era.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted based on in-service noise exposure and current symptoms.,The Veteran's back, knee, and ankle disorders are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for anxiety disorder, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's application to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and bilateral foot fungus have been denied. The case is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for a left ear hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain is remanded due to inadequate examination, and his claims for service connection for respiratory disability (secondary to PTSD) and for TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and migraine headaches. The Veteran's low back disorder, sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded for further development.,Service connection is not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder and his initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a PTSD diagnosis, and his current diagnoses of acquired psychiatric disorders otherwise had no nexus to his in-service event. For his bilateral hearing loss, the pure tone thresholds at his August 2014 VA medical examination represented an exceptional pattern of hearing loss for his right ear but were within normal limits for his left ear.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric data from a June 2018 VA clinic evaluation. The Veteran's hearing loss rating is still under review.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hearing loss did not manifest in service or within one year following service and that there was no medical evidence linking his hearing problems to military service.