Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. Tinnitus is found to have originated in service, while bilateral hearing loss is secondary to the service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring another opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and its relation to service or noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he has not experienced a current disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dyspnea is denied as he has not experienced a clinically diagnosed respiratory condition during the appellate period.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected allergic rhinitis is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher 10 or 30 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disability to military noise exposure and concluding that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding its relationship to diabetes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with no presumption or secondary connection considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities necessitate the use of bilateral knee braces, which tend to wear or tear his pants. The Board finds that he is entitled to annual VA clothing allowances for these knee braces in 2017.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist disorder, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all denied.,A VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability as there is no evidence showing that he had ever been diagnosed with a hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension due to conflicting statements about post-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder arthritis and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including VA treatment records from March 2018 and thereafter. The AOJ must review this evidence before readjudicating his claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic exposure. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating already reflects the impact of his tinnitus.,An effective date prior to June 5, 2015, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is not warranted due to lack of a formal or informal written communication indicating intent to apply for this benefit prior to that date.

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