Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding his separation examination and potential noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure, including consideration of delayed onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied. The initial evaluation of PTSD was granted at a 70% rating, but the case is REMANDED due to issues with TDIU prior to January 11, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the severity of his disability remains at a noncompensable level.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) as it was not shown to be etiologically related to his service or to have been caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied a compensable rating prior to August 4, 2016 and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent from that date.,An initial tinnitus disability rating in excess of 10 percent was also denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for tinnitus was granted, and the claim for service connection for tinnitus is now granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received after the prior final May 2009 rating decision.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection as it is related to his military service. However, the Veteran does not have a diagnosed PTSD and there is insufficient evidence linking any psychiatric disorder to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be related to his service, as he had significant noise exposure while refueling aircraft. As a result, the Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, scars of the head, face, and/or neck, hypertension, and total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to additional evidence added to the record.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease are presumed to have been incurred during his active service in Thailand due to exposure to herbicides.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not meet VA disability compensation criteria.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and emphysema.