Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The claims for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and headache disability due to lack of evidence meeting VA regulatory criteria. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing a new VA examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the VA disability criteria, and therefore his claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is denied as it preexisted service and was not aggravated during service.,Service connection for residuals of a left ankle fracture is granted, with the condition being shown to have begun in service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma and COPD, as well as his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, hearing loss, and tinnitus due to incomplete information from the Veteran regarding her private treatment records. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain updated contact information and any missing medical records.

The Board denied service connection for several conditions, including left eye fasciculations, right ear hearing loss, a respiratory disorder, an intestinal disorder, sleep apnea, and right arm sling palsy. The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran withdrew their claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is not factually ascertainable prior to February 16, 2016 that the Veteran met the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development and an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused by noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously denied. New evidence received since the last denial is considered cumulative and does not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), fatigue, and polyarthralgia. The issues are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lung cancer, anxiety, high blood pressure, skin cancer, and throat cancer due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The decision on whether new and material evidence was received in order to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and multiple joint conditions, prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.