Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to military noise exposure. A new VA examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of reasonable efforts by VA to obtain relevant private medical records, including those related to his use of hearing aids from the 1990s and a private examination he described at the March 2018 videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and left ear hearing loss is denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for low back disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities is remanded.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for vertigo, as there are concerns about the adequacy of the January 2019 VA examination and need for an addendum opinion.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service due to a lack of in-service noise exposure and no evidence of hearing loss within one year of separation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected. The lumbar spine disability and TDIU claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance. The case is now back with the Board for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to in-service noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and anxiety disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran's service treatment records showed normal audiogram readings, and his VA examination did not find any hearing disability or psychiatric condition.,For the herniated disc pulposa with degeneration, thoracolumbar spine, the Veteran was granted service connection but a higher initial rating of 10 percent is denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the issues of service connection for an endocrine condition, to include impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee condition has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of fainting spells.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of current disability at the time of filing the claim, absence of evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and these conditions, and failure to meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,There is no effective date issue as all requested dates have already been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a brain tumor is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's DM does not require regulation of activities and thus, the claim for an increased rating is denied.