Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities did not manifest during or within one year of separation from service and are not otherwise related to service. Service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, status post pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor, and allergic rhinitis is also denied as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was actual improvement in his disability levels and that he did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent since April 19, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's COPD case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus require additional development, as the opinions provided in the March 2017 VA audiological evaluation are inadequate. The Board finds that an in-person VA examination is warranted. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome requires a medical opinion to address his painful right knee scar and any claimed neurological involvement.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, but the appeal is remanded due to insufficient audiometric test scores in a March 2018 private audiological evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and concluding that his hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for multiple lipomas, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, right ear hearing loss, and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not meet the criteria for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded to adjudicate the claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the criteria for entitlement to an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions began during active service or are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as they are related to noise exposure during his military service.

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

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran's claim for SMC based on deafness of both ears was also denied due to lack of qualifying visual impairment.

The Veteran's death was used as a basis for substituting the appellant in his pending claims. The Board also found that additional VA treatment records from October 2005 to August 2011 are needed, and TDIU notice is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence established a link between the disabilities and military service, including exposure to noise during active duty.