Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of this claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.,Service connection was also granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with a remand necessary to obtain private medical records from the Kenansville, North Carolina medical center.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking current hearing loss to service.

The Board has found that the RO did not substantially comply with the directives set forth in the January 2019 remand. Therefore, further remand is necessary to obtain VA examinations and private medical records for the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 10, 2012 until August 13, 2012 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from August 13, 2012 until August 16, 2017 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss from January 15, 2019 was denied.

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

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, finding that it is related to his active service despite a lack of in-service treatment records. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for prostate cancer with urinary frequency due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted.,Service connection for hypertension and kidney stones are denied.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to prostate cancer with urinary frequency is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for cancer of pancreas due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and remanded the claims for hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and bilateral hearing loss, are deemed insufficient to allow for a determination on his TDIU claim. The Board has ordered further medical evaluation from an occupational or vocational medicine specialist.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities are not service-connected.,Service connection was denied for all conditions due to lack of evidence showing a link between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted and rated at 70 percent, effective from May 24, 2016. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea are also granted. Hypertension remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinions and incomplete treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied his requests for increased ratings for lumbar strain with muscle spasm and soft tissue injury, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date for separate ratings of 20% for right lower extremity radiculopathy and 10% for left lower extremity radiculopathy was set at August 21, 2015.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria or causation to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right shoulder disability due to new and material evidence. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria. Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on continuity of symptomatology. The claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded for a VA examination. The claim for right shoulder disability is remanded for an opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.