Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss. However, the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran had at worst level III hearing loss in both ears, which resulted in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board denied his claim for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is due to his active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because he does not have a current disability under VA standards. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection and higher ratings for various disabilities, including tinnitus, a heart condition, bilateral hearing loss, right lumbar radiculopathy, right hip disability, major depressive disorder, neck disability, low back disability, and right knee disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.,The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus and heart condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relationship to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unemployable, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a sleep disorder to include sleep apnea and a left ear hearing loss disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during active duty or within one year post-service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is as likely as not a relationship between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran will need to provide updated medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have permanently aggravated his hypertension, resulting in service connection for the condition.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hypertension are found to have permanently aggravated his residuals of a stroke, resulting in service connection for the condition.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hypertension are found to have permanently aggravated his heart disability, resulting in service connection for the condition.

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 Veteran's appeal for service connection on the merits is denied for a right torso disability. Service connection is granted for headaches. The appeals for spinal, bilateral tinnitus, hearing loss, and lower extremity disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to new evidence received after the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for left knee disability secondary to Hansen’s disease has also been denied due to lack of medical evidence showing such a condition exists or that it is related to the service-connected Hansen’s disease.

The Board denied a compensable initial rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if his knee and spine disorders, hearing loss, respiratory disorder, and hemorrhoids are related to his military service.