Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the previous opinions regarding the etiology and onset of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's increased ratings for chronic urticaria and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The cases of umbilical herniorrhaphy, hepatitis C, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically noise exposure.

The Board has decided that the VA audiological examination in September 2014 is inadequate for adjudication purposes because it did not evaluate whether noise exposure during either active duty or the reserves aggravated his hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss preexisted service, but the examiner found that a January 1984 audiological examination did not indicate a change of hearing from the previous year and had a history of occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral SNHL, gastritis, headache disorder, acid reflux, and fatigue have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for a respiratory disorder (bronchiolitis).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities including hearing loss and ankle sprain, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be secondary to his OSA, and he is granted service connection for OSA. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the objective audiometric findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric testing results and the need for additional information from the Veteran regarding any private treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered with these new pieces of evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on the presumption that it arose within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back condition, and bilateral knee conditions. The case is remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and assigned a disability rating. The issue of assigning a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the right ear at Level IV and left ear at Level I. The Board found that the speech discrimination results were mistakenly reversed in one of the examination reports.,The Veteran was not provided an examination for his claimed ankle and hernia disorders due to lack of medical evidence of current diagnoses or service connection.

The Board has stayed adjudication of all cases affected by the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, including this case.,Service connection is denied for erectile dysfunction, depression, bilateral sinus condition, upper and lower teeth problem, bilateral CTS, stomach condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral lung condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus. The periodontal disease/dental caries issue is remanded as an addendum medical opinion is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's low back disability. The appeal remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claim.