Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, but has found that more evidence is needed to determine if these conditions were caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of a personality disorder due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,Service connection for back disorder was denied as there is no evidence that the current condition began during or is related to active service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied because it did not manifest within one year after service and there is no evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinus problems, left ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea (to include as secondary to bipolar disorder), gout, bilateral knee disabilities, and back disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since the last VA examination in 2015, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination results and the need for further evaluation of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent vision disorder to include diplopia and blurred vision, and an initial rating for anemia with migraine headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's left inguinal hernia has been rated as non-compensable due to lack of recurrent or unoperated irremediable condition.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a current disability in the ears at present, as defined by VA standards.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and the Veteran's current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for fracture of the right medial malleolus is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has remanded for further action.,Tinnitus was granted service connection, but the rating remains at 10 percent.,Sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, chronic neck pain, erectile dysfunction, right inguinal hernia, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further review.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board has remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled examinations. The right ear hearing loss case is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right hip disability, and right ankle disability as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused the current disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee pain due to lack of a medical nexus.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with auditory acuity no worse than Level I in each ear. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the disability.