Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and neuropathy of the right upper extremity, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and awarded service connection based on direct evidence of a link between service and the condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, pulmonary condition, and residuals of acid reflux.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's disabilities may be related to his military noise exposure, but further medical examination is needed to establish a clear link between these conditions and his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no evidence of a higher rating being present.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with lower extremity radiculopathy and left ear hearing loss due to new evidence received since the April 2012 rating decision.,Service connection was denied for both conditions as there is no credible evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been reopened, but the appeal is being remanded due to new evidence received since July 2001. The Veteran's right ankle disability is also being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial in excess of 20 percent rating for a left (major) shoulder disability due to recent evidence suggesting worsening symptoms.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied both on the merits. The Veteran's hearing loss is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened since his last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The case is being referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his military service. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, left thumb disability, knee disabilities, hearing loss, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's initial claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and a subsequent increase to a 10% rating was granted effective March 13, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier compensable rating.

Service connection is granted for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and Hepatitis C.,Service connection is denied for elevated liver enzymes as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal because a timely notice of disagreement was not filed within one year from the December 2014 rating decision.