Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions, including hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, back and leg conditions, heart condition, foot conditions, sleep apnea, migraine headaches, gastrointestinal issues, eye conditions, erectile dysfunction, and heat prostration. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to scheduling issues for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The appeal as to hearing loss was dismissed. The appeals for left wrist disability, bilateral hip disability, heartburn, diarrhea, residuals of a concussion, and headaches were all reopened due to new and material evidence being received.

The Veteran's hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.,Service connection for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis is denied due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service, and the absence of a compensable degree of disability.,Low back disorder (arthritis and scoliosis) is denied as there was no chronic condition in service, and current symptoms are not related to service. Scoliosis is considered congenital and thus not subject to service connection.,PTSD is denied due to lack of evidence showing onset during service or within one year post-service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are more likely related to his military service due to credible statements of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and his service connection claim for a right shoulder disorder were both denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, hypertension, and left knee disability has been granted. The TDIU claim is being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the July 2013 VA examination found no significant hearing loss in the right ear during service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and brain tumor due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for right ear hearing loss as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused by acoustic trauma during service and has been granted as service connected.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, short-term memory loss, residuals of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and CFS due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,The Board found that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as the evidence shows current disability and a relationship to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral elbow condition, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no more than level I hearing acuity in her right ear and left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board found the evidence did not warrant consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.86.