Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, neck condition, and right upper extremity neuropathy. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as the Veteran did not undergo VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.,Service connection is also denied for left and right knee conditions due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied. Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for acid reflux and anemia, as well as rating for hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision on these matters is pending further review.

The Board has denied the Veteran's increased rating claim for coronary artery disease and remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and obtaining SSA records. The issues of PTSD, right shoulder strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right knee chondromalacia are all remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted. The claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and hemorrhoids were denied.

Tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Traumatic brain injury is denied as not service-connected.,Right knee disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent is remanded for further examination and opinion.,Left knee disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent is remanded for further examination and opinion.,Right shoulder condition is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Left elbow condition is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Cervical spine condition is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding etiology.,Obstructive sleep apnea is granted as service-connected.

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 due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability, including a lack of STRs and incomplete audiometric test results. The Veteran is asked to provide additional information about his service exposure to noise and for any missing records from his National Guard service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including lumbar spine condition (claimed as back condition), GERD, mental disorder (claimed as depressive illness), hyperlipidemia, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right hip arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, discoid lupus erythematosus, hypertension, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, neck disability, hearing loss, internal bleeding, acid reflux, and ingrown toenails. The Veteran needs to clarify his period of service with the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding no credible evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied in a final April 2011 rating decision. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.,The Veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his left ear hearing loss, but the current noncompensable rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's service connection for left-ear hearing loss is granted as his current symptoms meet the VA requirements for consideration as a disability, he experienced in-service acoustic trauma, and there is probative evidence of continued left-ear hearing loss from separation to present.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding whether the hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as service-connected, with the left knee disability receiving a temporary 100% rating followed by a permanent 60% rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a 100% disability rating, effective from the date of his claim. The Board has also determined that he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on housebound status since April 2, 2014. However, the issue of an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, but his tinnitus rating remains at the maximum allowable 10 percent.