Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The file will be sent back for a new opinion from an examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for sinus disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and MGUS. The Board found that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left wrist condition are all granted. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted with a 40% disability rating, but only for the left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to his claimed conditions, and thus service connection is denied for residuals of kidney stones, respiratory/pulmonary disorder (claimed as a lung condition), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating prior to January 16, 2019 and in excess of 80 percent beginning January 16, 2019 for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The appeal for service connection for photodermatitis, an increased rating for SMC on account of loss of use of a creative organ, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from November 30, 2009 to January 29, 2010, and 20 percent from January 29, 2010 forward for carpal tunnel syndrome and neuropathy of the right upper extremity is dismissed.,The appeal for an effective date prior to October 27, 2005 for hypertension is dismissed. The Veteran's claim was denied in December 2002 but reopened in October 2006 with a grant of service connection effective October 27, 2005.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left shoulder tendinopathy. The Board found no evidence of disease or injury in service that would support these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence shows no improvement in his hearing over several years of VA evaluations. The Board denied an increased rating as there was no change in his hearing impairment levels.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed.,A new and material evidence claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, has also been denied.

The Veteran's low back disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, and left wrist disability are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's right wrist disability is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and GERD was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board has decided to remand the issues of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left hand pain, low back condition, right knee painful motion, and left knee painful motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his pre-existing hearing loss did not increase in severity during active duty service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims of increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage of the left knee, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and some issues were granted. The remaining issues, including left ear hearing loss and hepatitis C, are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the appeal is remanded as additional medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's in-service surgeries aggravated his preexisting condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD, and his combined disability rating is sufficient to grant a TDIU prior to August 3, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to noise in service. Supplemental medical opinions are needed to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure, and whether his tinnitus is related to noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied, with no current evidence of such disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL) is remanded and will require further examination to determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information regarding his claimed conditions.