Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, type II diabetes mellitus, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and skin cancer are all granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are at least as likely as not related to service, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and right knee disability as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to a lack of post-service medical records and unclear private audiogram. The Veteran is asked to provide any outstanding VA or private treatment records, and for clarification on his private audiogram.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but the issue of service connection for degenerative disc disease with dextroscoliosis (claimed as crooked spine) is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected heart disorder and bilateral hearing loss have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a grant of Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection should be granted for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings, failure to consider shifts in hearing during service, and lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports regarding noise trauma. The case is sent back for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 20% since March 2, 2018. Prior to that date, the rating was noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right hand disability are not fully developed. These issues have been remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. However, the claim is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms of hearing loss that are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus, finding that only a single 10 percent rating is permissible under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and testing to determine the current severity of his hearing loss, knee conditions, and spine condition. The Veteran also needs further examination regarding whether he has right ear hearing loss.

The reduction in the disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective October 1, 2015, was improper and the 20-percent rating is restored.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, with some issues being remanded for further examination and review.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for a higher than noncompensable (0%) rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record. The AOJ is instructed to consider new evidence submitted by the Veteran and obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues.