Hearing loss decisions — 2019

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

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability, as well as its relationship to service. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 9, 2019 is denied.,The Veteran's rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from April 9, 2019 is also denied.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear application of the Maryland CNC test in the private audiograms conducted by the Veteran's private audiologists. The VA needs to clarify whether the speech discrimination scores were used and if so, what they are.

The Board has dismissed the appeals on the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and earlier effective dates for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, TIA/stroke, visual impairment, irritable bowel syndrome, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 30, 2014. The effective date for TDIU is denied as the Veteran met the schedular requirements for entitlement to TDIU after that date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient audiogram interpretation and to consider extraschedular rating for hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within a presumptive period, and that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus between the conditions and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including left knee condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, sleep apnea, acid reflux, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the presence or causation of these conditions during military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an increased rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for various conditions were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the December 2017 VA examiner's opinion, a need for additional development, and consideration of lay statements.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from August 17, 2010 and prior to September 3, 2013, and at 20 percent from that date. The Board denied an increase in the rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was denied because the evidence did not show that her condition was incurred in service and due to willful misconduct.,Service connection for right shoulder, right elbow, and neck disabilities were also denied as there is no objective medical link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period.