Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence, including verification of all periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The denial of the right knee disability is based on the opinion that the current condition is not related to military service, while the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is due to the Veteran's credible report of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from engaging in substantially gainful employment from April 23, 2007 to June 3, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and restless leg syndrome due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran is required to provide additional Reserve service records and undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and that any pre-existing hearing loss did not increase in severity during service. The Board also found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's left side hearing loss disability existed prior to service.

The Board has dismissed all issues of entitlement to service connection as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing loss is not related to his active duty service. The Board found that the evidence did not show a threshold shift in his hearing during service and there were no post-service clinical evidence of hearing loss until more than 39 years after his separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied. The appeals for hearing loss, actinic keratosis (prior to August 20, 2018), and actinic keratosis (since August 20, 2018) are all denied.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, generalized anxiety disorder, and a higher rating for his right nephrectomy were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the disability is currently rated at zero percent, which is noncompensable. The VA audiology examination results showed level I hearing in both ears.

The Board has denied service connection for a left foot disability, glaucoma, and a left knee disability. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastrointestinal disability, headaches (claimed as head trauma), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has found that a remand is warranted for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and initial compensable disability ratings for residuals of prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims will be addressed again with new evidence and examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection claims for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the passage of time and possible changes in his hearing acuity since the last VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to the Veteran's exposure to noise during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee replacements, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right forefoot arthritis, rendered him unemployable during the appeal period. The Board granted TDIU benefits.

The Board denied service connection for a right eye disability as secondary to lower back and digestive disorders, finding no evidence of causation.,The Board also denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as secondary to lower back and digestive disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation prior to June 29, 2015 was denied.,A 40 percent rating was granted effective from June 29, 2015.,A 50 percent rating was granted effective from April 3, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus was denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The reduction of the hearing loss disability rating from 70% to 40%, effective November 1, 2011, was restored due to improper procedure.