Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial 50 percent rating for headaches is granted, effective November 18, 2009. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (residuals of TBI), and PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disorder and left hip and left knee disorders are granted service connection. His bilateral hearing loss is denied as not related to active duty service.

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

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted. The issues of service connection for left and right ear hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's residual scar on chin is granted service connection. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as they pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service. Service connection for a dental condition is also denied due to lack of evidence showing bone loss through trauma or disease during active military service.

The appeals of the denials of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, service connection for tinnitus, service connection for sleep apnea, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are dismissed.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing has not approximated the criteria for a higher rating since the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is due to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his noise exposure during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dermatophytosis (claimed as jungle rot) due to exposure to herbicides has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore cannot establish service connection.,The Veteran's tinnitus was diagnosed many years after separation from service, and the VA examiner opined it is less likely than not related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision is based on the aggravation of pre-existing left ear hearing loss during service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have approximated the criteria for a 30 percent rating, but not for a 50 percent rating. The Board has also remanded his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination, including those related to hearing loss, vertigo, a blood infection during VA hospitalization in September 2012, a low back disability, and a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to the passage of time and potential negligence by VA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and neck disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are causally related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded the issues of service connection for a skin disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied in a December 2012 rating decision. The Board found that the evidence did not show his bilateral hearing loss disability had increased since his last VA examination, and thus no new examination was warranted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee condition. However, the Veteran's current right knee condition is less likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee internal derangement.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete STRs and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been reopened and granted. His current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have been incurred during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS has also been reopened and granted. The evidence now supports the possibility of a link between his IBS and service.