Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral foot condition and for service connection for his bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and development due to inadequate prior examinations and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from March 29, 2013 to November 11, 2018 was denied. The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent from November 12, 2018 to September 19, 2019 and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent from September 20, 2019 were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of heart disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinions provided prior to the July 2018 rating decision. The Veteran's service treatment records do not contain audiograms showing in-service hearing loss, which may affect the determination of whether his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current tinnitus at least as likely as not began during active service, manifested within one year after discharge from service, or is related to an in-service injury or disease, including noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion due to an inadequate January 2019 VA examination.

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

The Veteran was granted a 60% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss as of July 22, 2013. The higher rating is effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened. The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish a link between these conditions and his military service, but has ordered a new VA examination to determine if current hearing loss and/or tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including sleep disorder, damaged teeth/TMJ disorder, acid reflux disorder, right ear condition/right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, low back disorder, and left wrist disorder.

The Board denied service connection for cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted after September 2005.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically lack of post-service audiogram records and a need for an examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not start in or within one year of separation from active duty.,His left and right knee conditions are also not service-connected, with the Board finding no evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to VA's failure to obtain a private medical opinion and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for these records.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) due to level I hearing in both ears, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and military service, despite in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than November 2, 2016, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the earliest date of receipt of claim was November 2, 2016.