Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted. The decision also reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of proper medical evidence in the file, as the January 2015 VA examination relied on records from another individual.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during active service and continues to this day. Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Left hip lateral greater trochanteric bursitis, degenerative joint disease, right hip greater trochanteric bursitis, left knee disability (arthralgia), and left ear hearing loss are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's spouse was added as a dependent on his VA disability compensation award effective April 1, 2018. The appeal is denied because the proof of dependents was not received within one year of notification of the July 2016 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and loss of teeth due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his conditions. The Veteran is asked to provide all relevant medical records, including from prior to June 2015, and a VA examiner will be requested to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that his ringing in ears since service is causally related to noise exposure during active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, hemorrhoids, and erectile dysfunction. The evidence did not meet the criteria to establish a current disability or link these conditions to active service.,Specifically, there was no documented in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and post-service medical records showed that they were diagnosed many years after separation from service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding their etiology and resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The effective date of service connection for tinnitus was denied, with the Board finding that the earliest evidence of a claim was filed on July 2, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to pending issues related to the Veteran's car accident in March 2001. The claims will be addressed after obtaining relevant personnel and medical records from his National Guard and/or Reserves service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, diverticulitis, hypertension, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), tendonitis, and urticaria as there was no current disability present.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to noise exposure during service, including while working as an assistant flight deck safety officer. The VA examiner will need to consider new evidence of in-service noise exposure on the flight deck.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right foot condition have been reopened. The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and service connection for a torn rotator cuff have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) has not been established as there is no credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressors.