Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for migraine headaches was also denied.

Service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied. The Veteran's PTSD claim resulted in a TDIU determination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability for VA purposes.,Tinnitus has been granted, with the Board finding that the Veteran currently experiences tinnitus and it is related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pes planus, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions during or prior to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The claim for an increased rating for anxiety disorder has also been denied.

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran's Substantive Appeal, which was received on August 25, 2016, was untimely filed. The deadline for filing a substantive appeal is within 60 days from the date of mailing the Statement of the Case or within one year from the date of the rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment, specially adapted housing, or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2012 VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss began in service or after service as a result of conceded in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence indicating worsening of his condition and the need for additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service due to noise exposure. However, the VA examiner's opinion was inadequate and another examination must be conducted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability under VA criteria, with an increase in hearing loss during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing medical records and unclear nature of his current conditions. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and opinions.

The Veteran is granted a 70 percent rating for service-connected PTSD, effective June 9, 2014. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and PTSD are also set at June 9, 2014.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell, and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 4, 2017 was denied.,From December 4, 2017 onwards, the Veteran's increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of back pain and bilateral hearing loss for further examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of current hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss may be related to his active service, but needs further examination and opinion to determine this. The case is therefore being remanded for additional review.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders, asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, and bilateral foot disabilities are remanded due to lack of a nexus opinion.