Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,No effective date has been assigned as the earliest communication was on October 28, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability, skin disability, and hearing loss disability due to outstanding VA records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for tinnitus, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and left ear hearing loss were denied. The maximum rating of 10 percent for tinnitus was upheld. A higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not granted due to lack of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. Left ear hearing loss was rated at zero percent as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to May 2, 2018, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for left ear hearing loss disability and lung disability (previously claimed as residuals of pneumonia) were granted. The right hip, GERD, concussive migraine headaches, short-term memory loss, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hand, and right hand disabilities are all remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA examination and the Veteran's testimony regarding his noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending with an effective date set at April 13, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of a significant shift in hearing thresholds during service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded them due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability (emphysema), cardiac disability (calcified coronary artery disease), gastrointestinal disability (GERD, achalasia, and esophageal stricture), degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Board also denied a request to revise or reverse an April 1991 rating decision that denied service connection for headaches.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and he is also entitled to SMC by reason of being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been granted. The claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to unclear evidence of a current disability and the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his blood pressure readings do not consistently indicate diastolic or systolic pressures of 100 or more, or 160 or more respectively.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no evidence of continuous symptoms since service and the Veteran's current hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability for VA purposes and that it is less likely than not related to his in-service head injury.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have started during active duty. The left knee, right hand, and ankle conditions were denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service. The right foot condition was also denied for the same reason. Service connection for thyroid and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.,The Veteran's left knee, right hand, and ankle conditions were not granted as they did not have a link to his military service. His right foot condition was also denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's thyroid condition is being remanded because the July 2015 VA examiner found that it may be aggravated by another condition (heart condition). Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also being remanded.

Your appeal has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw it before the decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's claim. The case will be sent back for further development, including obtaining an updated opinion from the audiologist who conducted the June 2015 examination.