Hearing loss decisions — 2019

Service connection is denied for lower back disorder, right ear hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disorder.,A higher initial disability rating of left ear hearing loss from January 25, 2016, and a higher rating for PTSD are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and an eye disability due to incomplete development of records and opinions. The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 is not found to be a cause or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus preexisted service and were not aggravated by service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was reduced from 20% to 10%, effective May 1, 2014. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that no new claims were filed before July 31, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, noting that it did not manifest until many years after service and there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand three claims: bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a broken finger of the right hand. The Veteran's service connection requests are being sent back for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss warranted a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss but granted service connection for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's noise exposure during service and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his fracture right clavicle disability and the issues related to PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating than the current 20 percent assigned.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of separation audiograms. The Veteran is not presumed to have had preexisting left ear hearing loss at entry into service, but his right ear hearing loss may be related to active duty service as a cannon crewman.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to potential soundness presumption issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in his STRs, including a lack of STRs and an incomplete VA examination. The AOJ must continue efforts to obtain the Veteran’s records and provide him with adequate examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing levels have not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hernia issues, stomach ulcers, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) were denied as new and material evidence was not received within one year of the final October 2016 rating decisions.