Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has already granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss. However, the RO did not conduct a new VA examination as instructed in the February 2019 decision. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. Entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence not having been received. The Veteran's original claim for residuals of a right spontaneous pneumothorax was denied in December 1990, and no new or material evidence has since been submitted.

The Board has allowed the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for left eye disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The appeals are granted in part, with the left eye disorder claim being remanded due to a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the Board resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn all his pending appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his pre-existing right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and that his left ear hearing loss did not manifest during active service or within one year of discharge. The evidence showed no significant threshold shifts in his hearing acuity over the period of service from June 1953 to July 1962.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current noncompensable rating based on the July 2017 VA audiological examination results is correct.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development and examination due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The decision supports the Veteran's claim of in-service noise exposure leading to current tinnitus. However, there is no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss during service or within the presumptive period post-service, and continuity of symptomatology has not been established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and does not have a direct link to his service-connected tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and his chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease has been rated at 40 percent. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the severity of his back condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are rated at the maximum schedular rating. The residuals of postoperative left inguinal herniorrhaphy have been rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded due to conflicting evidence on whether he meets the criteria for a diagnosis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling issues for VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection for a low back disability is granted.,An initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability prior to February 26, 2018 and thereafter is denied.,An initial compensable rating for kidney stones prior to February 26, 2018 is denied. A rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is granted beginning from February 26, 2018.,Initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder disability, neck disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is granted. The Veteran's hearing impairment was rated as Level I in both ears prior to February 26, 2018 and as Level I thereafter. Entitlement to an initial compensable rating for kidney stones is denied prior to February 26, 2018 and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is granted.,The Veteran's left shoulder, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal of the effective date prior to October 17, 2013 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability is dismissed. The case is remanded for an increased rating on his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition.