Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headaches (claimed as migraine), hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied service connection. The tinnitus issue is remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of right hand strain and left hand strain are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, PTSD, anxiety disorder, and low back disorder have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The issues are now pending for further examination and determination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is being remanded for additional VA treatment records and a new examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chest pain as the Veteran does not have a ratable disability for either condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, osteoarthritis of the right knee, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and tinnitus, render him unable to obtain substantial gainful employment. As a result, the Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss disability from December 27, 2016 is granted. The reduction in rating was not justified based on the evidence of record.

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

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be service-connected. The Board has also remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities due to potential service connection issues.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left-ear hearing loss has been reopened and remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The AOJ should schedule an updated VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected PTSD, and issue a Statement of the Case on the initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure are considered credible, but the nexus opinions need to be more specific about medically known or theoretical causes of noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) was denied. A TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and that his left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is denied. For the left foot hammer toes, the case is remanded as there are insufficient records available.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury of the fingers and hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service cold injuries or hearing loss. The claim was remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, as there was no audiometric testing at separation and the Veteran reported immediate ringing in his ears after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and abdominal cysts.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding entitlement to a temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment in excess of 21 days for a service-connected condition. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as related to his noise exposure during active service.