Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back disability, left and right ankle conditions, residuals of a gunshot wound to the right shoulder, and left ear hearing loss due to potential issues with the sufficiency or reliability of the VA examinations. The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of updated treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants no greater than a Level I rating for each ear under Table VI.,Entitlement to increases in the ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee limitation of extension, and right knee impairment is remanded.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for hearing loss is granted. Service connection for ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease, hypertension, and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accidents and seizures are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to evaluate the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/hiatal hernia, left ear hearing loss, and right thumb fracture with residuals. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the current severity of these disabilities and to assess whether they are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, back injury, migraine headaches, and prostate cancer due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for more recent examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ear hearing loss disability is denied as he does not have a current hearing loss disability in the right ear for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims for back, right and left knee disorders, as well as hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is dismissed because the original decision became final.

The Board has dismissed all the issues of service connection as they are related to a deceased Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination as the current VA examiner's findings are insufficient.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's GERD rating remains at 10 percent, and the issue of an increased rating is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in all three audiometric evaluations, resulting in a non-compensable rating under the applicable VA criteria.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia, bilateral hearing loss, varicose veins, and residuals of frostbite, feet. The reasons given were that the conditions did not manifest in service or within a presumptive period, and there was no continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at zero percent, as the audiometric findings do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent. The Veteran has submitted new evidence suggesting his PTSD symptoms are more severe and warrant an increased rating to 70 percent.,Tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, as there is no higher schedular evaluation available for tinnitus under the Rating Schedule.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, deltoid ligament osteoarthritis of the right ankle, pulmonary hypertension, and erectile dysfunction were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for deltoid ligament osteoarthritis of the right ankle was denied as there is no limitation of motion that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied the claim for left ear hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but not for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service. The appeal seeking service connection for removal of four teeth was dismissed.