Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in the previous decision, including insufficient examination reports and missing treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss case requires a new VA opinion regarding threshold shifts from his service audiograms. Additionally, all relevant medical records must be obtained for both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no probative medical evidence that indicates the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred in service or diagnosed within the presumptive period after discharge.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete audiometric results and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service or within one year of separation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began shortly after his military service and have continued since.

Service connection granted for bilateral tinnitus and denied for bilateral hearing loss, a sleeping disorder (obstructive sleep apnea), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression).,The Veteran's service connection claims for the other conditions are denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the highest permissible level (10%). The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection, rating, and compensation for his lumbar spine disability, pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension.

The Board dismissed all service connection issues due to the Veteran's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA audiologic treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, with the latter granted. The claim for a higher rating for migraines is denied, as is the request to increase the hypertension rating. A 10% disability rating has been granted for COPD. The restoration of the back disability rating from 40% to 10% effective April 1, 2018 was found improper and remanded.

The claim to reopen the seborrhea claim has been denied as new and material evidence was not received sufficient to reopen the claim.,The claim for sleep apnea has been denied as there is no current disability for VA purposes.,The claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The claims for bronchitis and hypertension have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's multiple myeloma is also granted as service-connected, with the opinion suggesting it was due to exposure to hazardous chemicals during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the appeal period, and no higher rating is granted.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not approximated the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 30, 2018, or in excess of 20 percent on and thereafter. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to support the claims of service connection for difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing. The Veteran's other claims have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral SNHL due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, left foot disability, right foot disability, low back disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not show a nexus to service or any applicable presumptive period.