Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for Burkitt's lymphoma and hearing loss of the right ear, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's military service. The decision is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and remanded the issues of reopening left ear hearing loss, service connection for Meniere’s disease, increase in rating for right ear hearing loss, and rating for lumbar spondylosis. The case is now pending with the VA to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred or aggravated by military service.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence that it was related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tremor of the right hand, and tremor of the left hand are remanded. The Veteran is currently rated at 30 percent for each upper extremity tremor.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, kidney disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined with the above issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on all issues except PTSD was dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran had been diagnosed with PTSD and supported by medical and lay evidence, thus granting service connection for PTSD.

An initial compensable rating for mitral valve prolapse was denied.,The application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also granted.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of left hand disability due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 30, 2018 was denied. However, the Veteran's claim for a 40 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss on and after April 30, 2018 was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate examination in the February 2014 rating decision. The Board will schedule a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for allergic rhinitis were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities as defined by VA regulations, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The hearing loss issue remains pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service due to acoustic trauma.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, and abdominal cancer due to lack of clarity in audiometric results from January 1967 to December 1970 and insufficient verification of herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and whether it is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The current opinion from the previous examiner was not sufficient, as there were no explanations provided for why the absence of a puretone threshold shift or normal hearing at separation supports the conclusion that the hearing loss is not linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a heart disorder, hearing loss disability, and TDIU due to service-connected disorders. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional information from the Veteran, arrange for an examination, and provide an SOC addressing all issues.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.