Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of a compensable disability within one year of separation and no causal link between service and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, but the initial ratings are denied.,Service connection for residuals of head injury (claimed as traumatic brain injury) has been granted. Service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, dizziness disability, left ear disability, and sleep disability (to include obstructive sleep apnea) have not been established.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, blackouts/fainting, colon problems/irregular bowel movements, right shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, scoliosis of the spine, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have all been denied.,The Board found that there was no evidence to support a service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which is currently considered a direct service connection issue.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no effective date or rating adjustments are granted.

The Board has revised its decision to grant a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, overturning the initial non-compensable rating assigned in January 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to a level warranting a compensable rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.,Service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed as moot due to their grant in April 2019.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss existed prior to service, and the VA examiner found that it did not worsen during his military service. The AOJ is instructed to arrange for an addendum opinion regarding whether the pre-existing condition was aggravated beyond its natural progression.

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

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied, while his left knee and lower back conditions are to be evaluated through a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred during service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected physical disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is denied as the evidence does not show a current disability or relate to service.,PTSD was not diagnosed during service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms. The Veteran's tinnitus is also not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the Veteran's assertions about noise exposure during service are inconsistent with the record and medical evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have resulted in a 70 percent rating since November 25, 2014. The Board has granted effective dates of November 25, 2014 for the Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted after the previous denial.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The Board denied an extraschedular rating and granted a TDIU from September 7, 2018 due to her service-connected disabilities preventing her from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in aggregate, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.