Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied. The cases for left ear hearing loss, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no worse than level I hearing impairment in both ears. The Board found that a compensable rating for the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is not warranted at any point during the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for IBS is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The decision found no current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss, but did find that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and granted service connection for it. However, the hearing loss claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable, and the claim for service connection of sleep apnea syndrome is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder, and stomach disorder. The VA is directed to obtain additional treatment records and provide the Veteran with appropriate examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, with the Board noting that the Veteran's lay statements supported his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on the Veteran's subjective accounts of his disability impact and objective evidence.

The Board dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's previously denied service connection petitions and rating requests, including those for bilateral hearing loss, Grave's disease, diabetes mellitus, left knee injury status post meniscectomy, right knee strain, PTSD, and an earlier effective date for right knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss require additional examinations to assess current symptoms, severity, and functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an accurate audiometry examination.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened due to new evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting their respective claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to in-service noise exposure. The appellant must undergo a VA audiological examination.

The claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss is reopened, but denied. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.