Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of chronic hearing loss during or within one year after service.,The Veteran's claim for TBI is denied as the VA examiner found no relationship between his current complaints and events experienced in service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right ear hearing loss, OSA, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence or further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the claim was not filed within one year of the February 5, 2015 audiogram and there is no evidence of an increase in disability prior to October 11, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for labyrinthitis and a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss disability due to outstanding private medical records, worsening symptoms since the last VA examination, and need for an adequate nexus opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial rating greater than 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings. The case is now before the Board again.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure. The appeal is based on direct service connection, not a presumption.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not warrant a higher rating, as it only reached Level I in both ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are inextricably intertwined with the outcome of the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss. Therefore, both issues must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remands and has therefore remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in his prior VA examinations. The Veteran should be afforded new VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and hypertension have been denied.,However, the claim for service connection of a skin condition (pseudofolliculitis barbae) has been reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the hearing loss did not begin during service or within one year after discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board has decided to remand these issues for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right ear hearing loss due to inadequate previous examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for postgastrectomy syndrome was dismissed. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted, but the claim for service connection for a post-operative bilateral ear disability (including stapedectomy residuals) secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.