Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to showing these conditions are associated with the Veteran's service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability may be related to service, and remands for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the Board finding that his hearing impairment does not impact his daily life or employment.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a current VA audiological examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempts to reopen his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for a new VA opinion if the Veteran provides credible lay statements regarding continuous symptoms since his active duty service.

The Veteran's SMC claim for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board requires new evaluations that consider the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to require regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's increased PTSD rating and service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disorder, and hypertension have all been denied. The Board found that the current evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The VA will need to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified examiner to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been denied due to the lack of an established onset date and conflicting medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between service exposure to noise and current hearing conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied a higher rating based on the lack of pure tone thresholds meeting the specific percentages required for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from February 1, 2013 to July 7, 2016 was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable rating from December 9, 2014.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst claim was dismissed due to withdrawal. His low back scar claim was denied as secondary to a service-connected condition. A rating of 30 percent for laceration and surgical correction of the left foot from January 31, 2014 is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted, but has remanded for extraschedular consideration due to additional symptoms impacting employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and multiple sclerosis due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran needs a VA audiological evaluation to determine if he currently has hearing loss, and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed neurological condition.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a statement of the case regarding an earlier effective date for right ear hearing loss and for further development concerning the increased rating claim.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a left hip disability, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.