Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's application to reopen claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for sleep apnea remains denied, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss is reopened.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it first manifested in service and has been continuous since.,The Veteran's leukemia claim is remanded due to the need for further development of medical evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are being remanded for further examination. His varicose veins claim is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss (previously claimed as left ear hearing loss) and service connection for arthritis in the bilateral hand.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, but his psychiatric disability, COPD, and atopic allergic conjunctivitis with dry eyes are not yet determined.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The evidence did not show a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left ankle disability, and right knee disability have been denied.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate examination and missing evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. However, additional development is required as there are no adequate examinations of record to properly adjudicate these issues.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as it did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not otherwise related to his active duty.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including considering his in-service ear infections and any potential connection between his current conditions and service. The claims are being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of right ear hearing loss and gastrointestinal disability due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further development as there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a compensable rating for tinea pedis, migraines, and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the appellant's withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to a lack of VA compliance with its duty to assist in obtaining relevant private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension was denied in May 2017, and the appeal is now denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year post-service.,The Veteran's left ankle injury is not considered to have manifested during service. The claim is therefore denied.,There is insufficient evidence linking the Veteran’s unspecified anxiety disorder (including PTSD) to his military service. Service connection for this condition is also denied.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and left ankle injury claims remain denied.,The claim for tinnitus is granted as it began during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as he failed to report for VA examinations scheduled in conjunction with his claims.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss based on alleged clear and unmistakable error in a 1987 rating decision, as the May 1988 Board decision subsumed that prior decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus on a direct basis due to noise exposure in service. The claim for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of onset during service.