Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, CAD, acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), hypertension, malaise and fatigue, and GERD due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's active duty service included exposure to noise in-service without protection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of his claim.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches with photophobia and aura, back disability, Raynaud’s disease, right lower extremity neuropathy or restless leg syndrome, left lower extremity neuropathy or restless leg syndrome, thyroid disability, and abnormal weight fluctuation.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, sleep disability, and skin disability.

The Veteran's depressive disorder with anxious features is granted as secondary to service-connected cervical strain, migraines disorder, and tinnitus.,Left ear hearing loss has been granted based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, with the decision being based on direct evidence of a nexus to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating effective May 6, 2009. The remaining claims for increased ratings are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them in his attorney's April 2019 correspondence.

New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss is not considered aggravated by service.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has not yet addressed the merits of the reopened claims for facial scars and a penile disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as a statement of the case has not been issued.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s current disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his military service, specifically due to noise exposure.

The claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, migraine headaches, heart disorder, and high blood pressure have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,New evidence has not reopened previously denied claims of service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI), blurry vision, and blepharospasm.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence on file. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his mental health symptoms and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within one year prior to the filing of his claim, and the effective date assigned is the later of the date of receipt of the claim or the date entitlement arose.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and right ear tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during service and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, bronchitis, dermatitis, and cellulitis due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no current disability, and the evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or a relationship to active service.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for shin splints of the left leg and right leg are granted, effective from June 1, 2009.,Effective dates for service connection for transverse myelitis at C3 of the left upper extremity and right upper extremity are set to June 1, 2009.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for malignant skin neoplasms is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of right hand condition, bilateral hearing loss, low back condition, and left ankle condition. The neck condition appeal is remanded.