Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are service-connected, but his low back disability and left ankle disability have not been established as such. The claims for low back and left ankle disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right hip strain, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have worsened and remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss disability, determine the etiology of any current acquired psychiatric disability, determine the etiology of any current lumbar spine disability, and determine the etiology of his actinic keratosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active duty service. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, OSA, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The conditions are considered to be directly related to his military service, with no presumption or secondary connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle arthritis but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot consider it in its first instance and must be referred to VA’s Director, Compensation Service, for initial consideration. The evidence shows that the Veteran has been unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to his service-connected disabilities since October 2009.

The Board has decided that an additional VA opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active duty service or a year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The AOJ is required to obtain additional VA medical opinions, verify service dates, and attempt to corroborate the Veteran’s reported stressors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and did not manifest within one year of discharge. Service connection for tinnitus, however, was granted as it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD were denied.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to PTSD was granted.

The Board denied a higher rating for left total knee arthroplasty and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his military service and his current hearing disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates prior to August 10, 2016 were denied.,VA found no evidence of a claim having been filed prior to August 10, 2016.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, and the Board dismissed it as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is linked to in-service noise exposure, while his bilateral hearing loss disability is not.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric condition to include depression were denied. The claim for increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was also denied.