Hearing loss decisions — 2019

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes with diffuse disc bulge, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for bilateral hearing loss was not successful, and the denial of service connection for tinnitus is upheld.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting new examinations. The Veteran's hearing loss disability claim also requires a new examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss due to inadequate VA medical opinion and need for further audiometric testing.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is reopened, but the appeal is remanded to obtain a supplemental VA opinion regarding the etiology of his current bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his symptoms began during service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right foot disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to the need for further medical examination and review of records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and that the current disabilities were not related to service.

Service connection for hearing loss in left ear is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.,Service connection for skin cancer on face is denied.,A compensable rating for hearing loss in right ear is denied.,The claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded.,The claim for service connection for a vestibular disorder in the right ear, to include vertigo and loss of balance, is remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss in his right ear is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has denied a higher rating based on the results of a recent VA audiometric evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of frostbite in the left foot, and residuals of frostbite in the right foot. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability. The claims for left ankle, left knee, recurrent chest pain, bilateral shoulder, neck, and bilateral hip disabilities are denied as there is no evidence showing a current disability or that any such disabilities are related to service. Service connection for allergic rhinitis, sinus bradycardia, stomach disability, facial cellulitis, scalp dermatitis, headache, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is also denied.

The Veteran's lung disorder, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and peptic ulcer with GERD are all currently not service-connected. The Board has determined that new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for a lung disorder. Other claims have also been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss disability. The issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus on an extraschedular basis is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the issue of an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, hearing loss, sleep apnea, skin condition, and acquired psychological condition (including post-traumatic stress disorder).,Service connection was not granted because there is no current disability for each of these conditions.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as they were not shown to be related to service.,Headaches, including migraines, were also denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition.