Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of the claim based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling since February 7, 2011. The Board also granted a TDIU from the same date due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

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

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has worsened, and the Board is remanding the case to obtain updated treatment records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with its April 2019 remand directives, specifically regarding obtaining an appropriate medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability in his right ear for VA purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and skin cancer. Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 13, 2006 for the award of service connection for TBI residuals. The appeal regarding the propriety of the RO's revision of the initial rating decision is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a retroactive effective date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but has remanded the issue of his bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being needed.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for residuals, status post exploratory laparotomy for bowel obstruction and a back disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the case for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms within one year post-service. The VA examinations indicated no nexus between current hearing loss and tinnitus and military service.,There is no indication of any in-service noise exposure leading to current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received after a final decision. The Veteran's MOS required exposure to acoustic trauma in service, which may be related to his current conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and insufficient nexus between active service and the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is rated at 40 percent from July 1, 2019. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the period before that.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because the Veteran did not submit a proper Notice of Disagreement (NOD) and instead submitted a Form 10-182 Board Appeal, which was filed after February 19, 2019. The case is therefore dismissed due to improper filing.