Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the duty to assist was not satisfied in the March 2018 decision, and thus remanded for obtaining audiometric testing results from the Veteran's September 2009 and May 2016 VA hearing examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear has been reopened and granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear remains denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a higher initial rating for lumbar spine disability. The service connection claims for TBI residuals, right ear sensorineural hearing loss, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss have been denied. The claim for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise levels.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral leg shin splints, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and a condition manifested by frequent urination. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted effective April 17, 2017. Service connection was established for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to herbicide agent exposure and secondary to diabetes mellitus, and anxiety disorder.,Anxiety disorder is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to service exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residual scar, excision of neoplasm posterior neck was denied as the evidence did not show at least one characteristic of disfigurement.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no current diagnosis and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran had hearing loss during service or due to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for a cervical spine disorder is granted, with the Board finding that the current disability is related to active service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for short-term memory loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent disability rating, and the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent is denied. The left ear hearing loss disability remains unresolved due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if it is related to his service-connected rhinitis.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine, as there was no post-service medical evidence of complaints or treatment for right ear hearing loss and no competent evidence indicating right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether PTSD aggravated dementia, which was a contributing factor to the Veteran's death. The Veteran had service-connected disabilities but did not meet the legal criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, with the claims being granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for an asbestos-related lung condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The VA determined that the Veteran’s hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with Level II hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disorder, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for service connection on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a separate 10 percent rating for cranial nerve VII due to Frey Syndrome should not be earlier than March 2, 2015. The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The appeal for an increased initial rating for PTSD is dismissed.