Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology. Additional development, including obtaining medical opinions, is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 50 percent prior to February 20, 2019 and denied for a higher rating. From February 20, 2019, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 90 percent and also denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to his active service.,The claim for tinnitus has been granted, with the decision noting that new evidence received after a previous denial supports reopening of this claim. The Board also finds that the Veteran’s tinnitus is related to his service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and left leg disability are not service-connected.,The Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are not service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, but the right foot disability remains unaddressed due to a duty-to-assist error.,Tinnitus is service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his military service and have continued since then. Service connection was denied for hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the left ear, finding that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma during service and has shown a chronic condition that originated in service. The Veteran's lay statements of continuity of symptomatology were found to be credible.

Service connection is granted for a right eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The right eye disorder is related to service due to trauma from boxing matches. Bilateral hearing loss is linked to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus is secondary to the Veteran's hearing loss. Hepatitis C is associated with in-service injections.,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, his claims for service connection are all granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him so nearly helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, or cause him to be housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of pure tone audiometry test in the most recent VA audiology evaluation, and ordered a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with a Maryland CNC speech recognition score of 96% in the right ear and 98% in the left ear. The Board found that this level of hearing acuity does not warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral eye disability, kidney disease, left and right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any in-service injury, event, or exposure.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, cyst in pancreas, right and left Achilles tendonitis, hemorrhoids, residuals of a cholecystectomy, cataracts and glaucoma, chronic kidney disease with hypertension, and coronary artery disease. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis has been reopened.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were previously denied, but new evidence has not been received to reopen these claims. The Board found the evidence submitted since the July 2010 rating decision is cumulative and redundant of the evidence at that time.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The issues are related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records related to the appellant's hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for increased disability evaluations and effective dates related to bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, and his bilateral hearing loss and OSA were granted increased ratings. Service connection for sinus disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted, effective from the date of separation from active duty.,The Veteran's claims for anxiety and tinnitus are denied as they were not received within one year after separation from service. The Board grants an effective date of September 5, 2013, for these conditions.,Service connection for left hand disability, right hand disability, right leg disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for anxiety is granted.