Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left-hand condition, and a right-hand condition due to new evidence submitted after the last readjudication.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been withdrawn. The Board has also dismissed the claim for a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss. The case is REMANDED for further action regarding PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service exposure, and his hypertension and migraine condition are not shown to have begun during service or be otherwise related.,Service connection for PTSD was properly severed, but the Veteran still seeks an earlier effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete audiology test results from VA, and a need for additional medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability in his left ear that met VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The appeal to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is also granted, but service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with an average decibel loss of 22.5 in the right ear and 26.25 in the left ear.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% effective September 4, 2015. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether his hearing loss warranted a higher rating since that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for initial compensable disability rating for dermatitis and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, but the other issues related to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as cervical spine and left leg disabilities, are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of postphlebitic syndrome. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria. For postphlebitic syndrome, another examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss remains unresolved. The decision to remand for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the bilateral hearing loss is made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no link between his active duty service and these conditions. New evidence submitted since the September 2017 decision did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions was dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and vertigo.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU claim are both remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The issues include evaluating the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability, as well as determining if he is unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including shrapnel wounds of the abdomen and right knee, TKA for his right knee, painful scars, ventral hernia, gunshot wounds to the thigh, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar from his right knee replacement, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the issue of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.