Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including arthritis, was not incurred in or due to his time in service. The hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a finding of a current disability. The right knee condition is remanded due to lack of an opinion on its etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral foot disorders, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left foot/ankle sprain and callouses of the feet, hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroenteritis, are not etiologically related to his active duty service.,Service connection for cervical spinal stenosis and upper respiratory disorder is remanded as further medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI), and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot tendonitis, cold induced bronchospasm, microscopic hematuria/renal failure, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for a blood condition is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has decided that the case should be returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete information and need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The earlier effective date claims have been denied as there is no evidence that an earlier effective date prior to April 3, 2012 is warranted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service records and inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases of sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and the reopening of a nervous condition claim due to outstanding requests for DRO hearings. The Veteran's representative requested a videoconference DRO hearing but it has not been held yet.

The Veteran's claim for non-specific urethritis is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his auditory thresholds do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,New and relevant evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The matter will be remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for back disability is remanded due to the combat presumption established by his participation in naval combat operations.,The Veteran's claim for right knee disability is remanded due to the combat presumption established by his participation in naval combat operations.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there was no diagnosis of hypertension at entry into service and the issue involves presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran also received a grant for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss disability, finding no evidence of current disabilities at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 80 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to exposure to loud noise during active duty, and the symptoms began in service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded to obtain a new VA examination.