Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was denied, as he did not meet the DSM criteria. The reduction in his lumbar spine rating from 40% to 20% effective September 3, 2015 was found to be proper due to improvement evidenced by more restricted range of motion and increased radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep disorder, anxiety disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation and his pre-existing hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left shoulder disorders have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation and to obtain private medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not shown, and the disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension for additional development.,Service connection is not granted for bilateral tinnitus as it did not manifest in service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple drug intoxication, with service-connected PTSD contributing substantially or materially to the cause of death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and service-connected burial benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back disability due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has denied reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for prostate cancer is remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. His hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted, but diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure. Service connection is also granted on a secondary basis for tinnitus due to his now service-connected hearing loss.

The appeal for right ear hearing loss is dismissed. The appeals for the low back disorder, left hip disorder, left ankle disorder, throat disorder, and right wrist disorder are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded other issues including initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for low back disability, service connection for right knee disability, service connection for left knee disability, service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hip disability, service connection for bilateral shin splints, and service connection for bilateral ankle disability.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.