Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder, left ear hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II. The case is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a respiratory disorder (asthma), and diabetes mellitus as the evidence did not support direct service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hearing loss in the left ear and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities alone resulted in unemployability.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for hemangioma excision residuals due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether there is a nexus between the Veteran's COPD and active service. The Veteran served in combat in Vietnam, where he was exposed to exhaust fumes and burn pits.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and sleep apnea due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's STRs show noise exposure during service, but his current hearing loss is not definitively linked to service based on the provided information. For sleep apnea, there are no VA treatment records before December 2015, and the examiner did not consider the Veteran’s reported symptoms in service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is rated as non-compensable (zero percent) throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of VA treatment records and an inadequate medical opinion. The case is being sent back for further development, including obtaining missing VA records and scheduling the Veteran for a new examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran due to an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeals were not granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for hypertension, presumed due to in-service herbicide exposure, is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the lack of a recent VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is etiologically related to his active service due to noise exposure during training as a cannon fire direction specialist.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, entitlement to a compensable initial rating for right ear hearing loss, and entitlement to higher initial ratings for right and left knee strain with patellofemoral pain. The Veteran must file a timely substantive appeal to perfect an appeal to the Board of these issues stemming from the March 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's bladder cancer residuals resulted predominantly in urinary frequency, but not leakage requiring an appliance or absorbent pads.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was rated at 0 percent based on the Maryland CNC speech recognition score and pure tone thresholds.,TDIU prior to September 30, 2007 is denied as the Veteran had been employed until his retirement from the fire department.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.