Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection, while the initial compensable rating for his varicose veins of the left lower extremity remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and male reproductive system condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the regulatory thresholds for an award of a schedular TDIU rating. However, his claim may be considered on an extra-schedular basis due to the functional impairment resulting from his service-connected back disability and radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disorders due to insufficient examination findings and lack of noise exposure assessment.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unable to maintain or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of audiometric testing results, and requests that another VA examination be conducted to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for earlier effective dates due to the receipt of additional relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Parkinson's Disease, bilateral hearing loss, asthma, COPD, heart condition, back injury, and bipolar disorder. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, SSA records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 10 percent for residuals of a left toe fracture is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing problems are linked to his in-service noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss as there was no new and material evidence presented.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service acoustic trauma. The claim for breast cancer is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the condition.,Service connection for breast cancer is being remanded because the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation at McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for Meniere's disease, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, diplopia, and migraine headaches. The Veteran is to be scheduled for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination to assess his current level of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his audiometric testing results do not support a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations in tinnitus and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and diabetes mellitus have been granted service connection. The Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, and cervical spine disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing an increase in severity during service. The right ear hearing loss claim was granted, but the Veteran's representative suggested a new examination is needed as his disability picture may have changed since the last examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his active duty service.