Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The initial rating for gastroenteritis remains at 30 percent, and the right hand scar secondary to ORIF surgery received a remanded decision.,Obstructive sleep apnea was remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and a back disorder due to incomplete development and lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, Crohn’s disease, and hernia due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee condition and bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The Veteran's left ankle condition is remanded for further examination.,Service connection for right knee condition was established based on the evidence showing that the disability began during active service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are granted. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for the bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty service, including exposure to loud noises from firing artillery without protection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, left calf muscle injury, right calf muscle injury, and right thigh muscle injury as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from December 11, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to this date and denied both the claim for a higher rating before this date and the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent after this date.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a low back condition was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss, as audiometric testing results were within normal limits. For the low back condition, the Board determined there was no causal link to active duty service based on medical evidence and an examiner's opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to pending issues with SSA records, which could impact both claims.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding VA treatment records not being in the claims file.

The Board has dismissed all the claims of service connection due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and granted due to the submission of new evidence that relates his current condition to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board has remanded for further examination regarding his left knee DJD. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for further opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected. The right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss claims are dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal for these conditions. The right knee disability claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it is related to in-service noise exposure. The claims for service connection for headaches and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance from October 1, 2017 is denied. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis is remanded.