Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as he contends that his hearing has worsened since his last examination.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with a rating of 20 percent effective October 18, 2013. The issue of service connection for cervical neck strain has been reopened and granted.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD lumbar spine, cervical spine, left and right medial tibial stress syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension are being remanded for further evaluation to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including a VA medical examination and opinion to determine if his hearing loss, BPH, nephrolithiasis, and hypertension are related to service. The claims will be considered again based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board granted a TDIU based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, and the issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further review.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for secondary service connection for bilateral hand disability to include as secondary to low back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for headaches, hypertension, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA), as well as the TDIU claim on the issue of service connection for headaches. The claims are now pending again with the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss have been withdrawn. Service connection has been granted for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and congestive heart failure due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least as much evidence to support these conditions being related to noise exposure during his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is determined to be related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced as a tank gunner and driver. The Board found that this evidence supports granting service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic low back pain is denied.,The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are both denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and thyroid cyst.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and remanded due to the need for additional medical examination results. The issue will be reconsidered based on any new evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeals of increased ratings for a service-connected right ankle ligament sprain with arthritis and bilateral hearing loss because the appellant requested to withdraw his/her appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of otitis externa, a recurrent gynecological disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as these issues have been fully granted in an October 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits is remanded due to the need for a complete vocational rehabilitation file and additional evaluations. The Veteran also needs to provide evidence of unsuccessful attempts at employment in his chosen fields.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he and his representative have requested withdrawal of the appeal.