Hearing loss decisions — 2019

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

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asthma, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, lumbar spine disability with associated radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, bilateral ocular disability (claimed as an eye condition), chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and prostate disability.,The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses of these conditions during his military service. The VA audiology examination in March 2016 found normal hearing for both ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level II hearing in the right ear and Level I hearing in the left ear, resulting in no more than a zero percent disability rating. Therefore, an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has not been established.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and dismissed the claims of service connection for blood disability and skin disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it was caused by or related to the Veteran's acoustic trauma during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty service.,However, the Board granted service connection for tinnitus, concluding that the Veteran's testimony supported a credible account of its onset during service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his representative.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability should be remanded due to conflicting evidence of record.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral foot condition. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. However, his claims for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral foot condition are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not caused by or a result of an event in military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 14, 2017, and an evaluation in excess of 70 percent thereafter for PTSD with panic disorder, agoraphobia, and major depressive disorder are denied. The Veteran's service-connected ischemic coronary artery disease is granted a restoration of the 60% rating effective May 1, 2011.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from September 18, 2014 to October 29, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and other specified depressive disorder have all been denied as not related to service or otherwise supported by evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the disabilities are directly related to in-service exposure to loud noise during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's unspecified dementia, major depression, meningioma/meningothelial meningioma, and skin lesions on back are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that his current hearing loss was incurred in or due to his time in service.