Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current hearing loss and military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not establish a nexus between the current disability and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate rationale in the VA examination opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or related to an in-service injury. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a link between current hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are all granted service connection. The issue of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied an initial compensable schedular rating and an extraschedular rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the severity of his hearing acuity levels.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current evidence of a disability for VA purposes, and the May 2015 VA examination was found to be credible.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of right ear hearing loss and left knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to repeated exposure to loud noise during his service as an aerial navigator. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.,The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, knee, wrist, elbow, and right thigh disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal. The issues of higher rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for laceration scars and bullet wound scar, and lung disorder were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities. The Board found that she has PTSD due to military sexual trauma during service, bilateral hip replacements related to service, migraines also related to service, and tinnitus related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right plantar fasciitis since March 12, 2010 has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's hearing loss is now rated at 10 percent, effective August 23, 2018. The Board has also granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including depression and substance abuse disorder), but the claim remains pending as a VA addendum medical opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing audiogram records, which may show an increase in disability. The Veteran is requested to provide these records or be notified if they are not available.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and back disability are granted, but the TDIU claim is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are service-connected. The right ear hearing loss is not service-connected, as the pre-existing condition did not worsen during service. Tinnitus was not shown to be related to service.