Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, and right hand disorder due to incomplete examination findings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service acoustic trauma is consistent with his combat service and that he experienced symptoms of these conditions during and since service.

Your claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. You now have a claim to reopen for bilateral hearing loss, emphysema, tinnitus, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.,The Board has determined that you have new and material evidence to support your previously denied claims of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran was not afforded an examination prior to the May 2019 rating decision, which is now being corrected.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 50 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, while his claim for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and gastroenteritis were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions, or a link to service. For other issues like anxiety disorder, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his symptoms did not warrant such an increase in disability ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, leading to the grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that his pre-existing bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during service and was not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's digestive disability is rated at 20% from June 25, 2008 to May 23, 2017 and at 30% beginning May 23, 2017. The Board has granted these increased ratings.,For the period prior to May 13, 2017, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development of his audiogram records from Atlanta VAMC in November 2014 and June 2015. For the period beginning May 13, 2017 onwards, a rating exceeding 10% is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking the current disability to his military service.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because the evidence did not demonstrate that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and clarification on whether he still wishes to have a Board hearing. The service connection issue for tinnitus, which has already been granted, is not under appeal.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service hazardous noise exposure, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dysthymic disorder was denied as there was no CUE in the November 2009 rating decision.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss were remanded due to new evidence showing a worsening of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate nexus opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability. A new opinion is needed from a different VA examiner.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for a new VA examination considering the aggregate effect of all his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted. The claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, type II diabetes mellitus, and sleep difficulty and insomnia are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service.,The Veteran's left and right leg disorders (varicose veins) may be related to his military service, but further examination is needed.