Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss are currently rated as 10 percent each. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.,Service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraine headaches secondary to TBI, and an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to TBI was not granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain has been granted. The Board has remanded all other issues on appeal due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for right wrist ganglion cyst, a right hip condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The hiatal hernia claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has improved, and thus a reduction from 100% to 30% is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of chronic hearing loss during or within one year after service, and the Veteran did not have continuity of symptoms. The VA examiners found that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current disabilities.

The Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to, by a service-connected disability.,VA did not find that the Veteran’s death was due to VA negligence in providing care.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions had onset during active duty service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection, while the left ear hearing loss from April 18, 2017 to March 13, 2019 is denied a compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, but needs further clarification due to a lack of adequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current hearing impairment is at least as likely as not related to his military service, but the VA examiner found no threshold shift in his right ear during service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Meniere's disease/syndrome, as it may be related to his service-connected hearing loss. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but remanded the issue of right ear hearing loss due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an in-service ruptured right eardrum, hearing loss, and headaches. The Board found that the in-service injury did not cause or aggravate these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Sleep Apnea, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, and GERD. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for GERD.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the issues of bilateral hearing loss and an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hypertension.,Service connection for a left ventricular hypertrophy is granted, subject to further review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral pes planus are granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities were related to his in-service exposure, but a new VA examination is needed for the pes planus claim.