Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found that there is no nexus between the Veteran’s current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and his time in service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left hand neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and asthma have been denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

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

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining missing service treatment records and private medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) due to potential inadequacies in the medical opinions provided. The issues are being returned for further clarification and evaluation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus need to be remanded due to inadequate opinions in the August 2014 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of hearing loss due to inadequate examination and factual premise.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a disability level of hearing loss that qualifies under VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied as the Board found no current evidence of true tinnitus, and instead concluded it was somatosounds rather than true tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus effective February 23, 2019. The Veteran's initial claim was previously denied due to failure to report for a VA examination in 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied because he did not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus. His claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted as his service records show he experienced acoustic trauma and has credible continuity of symptoms.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability, tinnitus, or back disability due to service. The right knee issue is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is granted. The rating for his right shoulder disability remains at 20 percent, and the Veteran's request for a separate rating for joint and neurological disorders associated with the right shoulder is remanded. His scars are not rated compensably.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for tinnitus has been denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher rating.,The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his right shoulder impingement, lumbosacral strain, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have all been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has also been remanded as the VA examination was found invalid.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence or incomplete opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion. The current medical records do not include recent audiogram results, which may affect the determination of whether his hearing loss is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and inguinal hernia as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology or severity. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations.

The Veteran's hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his military service, as he reported exposure to loud noise from firing artillery without protection. The STRs are unavailable due to a fire in 1973.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the current disabilities were related to his active duty service.