Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is insufficient evidence to link these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner did not consider the DuPont employee audiograms and the Veteran's statements about wearing hearing protection during his employment.

The Veteran's back and hearing loss disabilities have increased in severity since his last VA examination, and additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee and foot disorders, heart disorder, eye injury residuals, Meniere’s Syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the upper extremities, left shoulder injury, right wrist disorder, fractured ribs, ear disorder (excluding hearing loss), tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, bleeding disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The Board also remanded for further action on a claim for service connection for a left wrist disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD due to insufficient evidence in their respective examinations. The VA is required to provide additional examination or opinion that considers the Veteran's statements regarding noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is due to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, myelodysplastic syndrome, and neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities have been granted service connection. The initial compensable rating for recurrent furunculosis has not been met.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities are rated at 60 percent, and evidence shows they preclude her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest within one year of separation from service, and there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left ear hearing loss and an increased rating for paranoid schizophrenia due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his hearing loss disability.

The Veteran was granted service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder and depression, lumbar strain and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity sciatica, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was denied for cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for service connection for sprain, both ankles is granted. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied. The claims of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis (lumbosacral disability), cervical strain, and coronary artery disease (CAD) are remanded. The claims of service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hand disability, and right hand disability are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and whether a reduction in rating from 30 percent to zero percent was proper due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hepatitis B, and mental disorder are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss was dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of his appeal.,Service connection for tinnitus and hypertension were both reopened based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. Service connection for tinnitus is denied. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disorder (to include sleep apnea) due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disorder, blood disorder (claimed as myelofibrosis and myeloproliferative disorder), and pruritus are all granted service connection. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss disability is related to acoustic trauma during service.