Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus need further examination and evidence collection, as the current VA examination report is inadequate.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at a noncompensable level, but the Board has granted a compensable rating of 10% for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits claims are remanded due to the need for extraschedular consideration, as his service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements prior to September 8, 2015.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the underlying claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a medical nexus between his in-service noise exposure and post-service hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating on his left testicular torsion is denied, and the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current level of bilateral hearing loss and its relationship to service, including noise exposure and an in-service injury to the left ear.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, but has remanded it due to need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the current severity of his left hip strain, obtain National Guard/Reserve service medical records related to hearing loss, and provide an addendum opinion regarding whether his bilateral hearing loss was caused by noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they are not related to his active military service.,Service connection for TDIU is denied because the Veteran does not meet the schedular requirements.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is denied.,Service connection is granted for the residuals of HPV, including residuals of cervical dysplasia and partial hysterectomy. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this finding.,The Veteran’s claim for service connection for hemorrhoids is remanded due to lack of medical examination or opinion regarding her current condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability is remanded as there is insufficient information on whether it was caused by the service-connected right ankle disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for partial hysterectomy is remanded as there is insufficient information on whether it was due to HPV or its complications.

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

The appeal for left ear hearing loss is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a back disability, bilateral lower leg disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed herbicide exposure and obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining missing in-service medical records from Fort Jackson. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending and will be reconsidered after the additional evidence is obtained.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions began during or were caused by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board has granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The cases for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, type 2, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded. The TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with these issues.