Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with a speech recognition score of 96 in both ears and average hearing thresholds below Level I.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete treatment records and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran needs to provide complete treatment records, including those from his April 2019 audiogram and upcoming appointments with an ENT specialist. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss disability had its onset during active service or is related to in-service exposure to traumatic noise.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular evaluation since January 10, 2013. The Veteran does not have an exceptional case where the available schedular evaluations are inadequate.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA audio examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that there is a causal link between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing disability.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to unclear speech discrimination testing and missing VA treatment records. Additional development, including examinations, is needed.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for hearing loss in the left ear was denied as there is no current disability. The claim for erectile dysfunction was denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for COPD and obstructive sleep apnea were remanded, requiring further examination and evaluation by VA clinicians.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show a chronic disease in service or continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. However, the Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease, including whether he has loss of use of any extremities.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to service or if he currently has a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the Veteran's active duty records being unavailable. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional medical or non-medical evidence, including witness statements and medical records, to support his account of events during his U.S. Army Reserve assignment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, a right eye disability (including cataracts, pinguecula, and dry eyes), a right foot disability, a left foot disability, and a right leg disability. The decision concluded that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for reopening of service connection claim for a laceration to the right index finger and for determining the current severity of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's recurrent herpes genitalis is granted an initial compensable rating, and his low back condition is granted service connection. Service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to continuous post-service symptoms and in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, specifically noting that there was a significant threshold shift in both ears during service and post-service audiometric testing meeting the criteria for disability under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical strain, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to a lack of nexus opinions regarding service connection. The case must be returned for further examination and opinion.