Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination that did not consider a delayed onset of hearing loss or tinnitus after service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 30, 2018, and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied. The Veteran was previously granted a noncompensable evaluation for his hearing loss, which has now been increased to 20 percent effective January 30, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is reopened, and his acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood) is granted. His hypertension is rated at 40 percent, effective from January 1982.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability and denied an effective date prior to February 3, 2014, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is a reasonable possibility of their relationship to his in-service noise exposure. The decision also notes that the Veteran reported significant noise exposure during basic training.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected, but his right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA compensation. The Board has also remanded issues related to his foot/ankle condition, sleep condition (REM behavior disorder and OSA), and acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending due to its inextricability with the service connection claim for his foot/ankle condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being reviewed to determine if they are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss did not worsen during service and that his current tinnitus is not related to service.,The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current tinnitus was at least as likely as not a symptom of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and insomnia associated with tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not begin in service or are otherwise related to military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not received, and the claim is therefore denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability due to missing records. The case is also remanded for VA examinations to address the etiology of these disabilities.

The case is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including consideration of in-service noise exposure and post-service civilian occupational noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). The RO is instructed to contact the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and determine whether the Veteran was on ACDUTRA during 1999, 2000-01, or 2003. If these periods are confirmed, addendum opinions must be obtained regarding the etiology of any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for a neck condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The examiner found no evidence of these conditions during active service or within one year after separation.,There is no current evidence of hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board found no current disability related to the issues, with some conditions being part of a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The effective date of the grant of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is set at June 25, 2018.