Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his military service. The decision does not address any other conditions or issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for headaches secondary to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for non-hodgkin’s lymphoma was withdrawn. The Board granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his multiple conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with its previous directives regarding the increased rating claim for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran was not provided proper notice and opportunity for a VA examination, which is necessary to determine the severity of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including back, neck, right elbow, right hand tendon rupture, right hip, bilateral hearing loss, and left Achilles rupture/repair are all denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination for liver condition and insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a liver injury are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not causally related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), giant cell arteritis (GCA), bilateral pulmonary embolism, hypertension, and glucose intolerance due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for various conditions and exposure to noise. The Veteran's claims for PTSD are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted, and the Board finds that his current psychiatric disorder is related to in-service events. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, GERD, diabetes, left knee disability, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, a dental condition for outpatient treatment purposes, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied, and his claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a disability rating of 20 percent for his spondylolisthesis at L5-S1. His right lower extremity radiculopathy also warrants a 40 percent disability rating. However, the TDIU claim was denied as the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting conditions worsened during his military service. The decision also acknowledges a head injury in service which may have contributed to the Veteran's tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and a higher rating for his lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of recent examinations.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss disability, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure and insufficient continuity of symptomatology. Service connection was also not granted for Barrett’s Esophagus due to lack of in-service exposure.,Barrett’s Esophagus is remanded as the Veteran's military service may have exposed him to trichloroethylene (TCE), a known carcinogen, but further evidence is needed to establish a link between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent for supraventricular arrhythmias are both remanded due to the need for additional examinations.