Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. A 10% disability rating for the right ring finger swan neck deformity is granted, but further evaluation is needed for left knee degenerative joint disease and right knee meniscal tear.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted. Service connection for hearing loss is remanded.

The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is granted. The claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current disability did not have onset during military service and is not shown to be related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disability did not have onset during military service and is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show a current disability in either ear, and no medical opinion supports this finding. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder to include Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is remanded as there is insufficient consideration of lay statements and military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis, right knee joint osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also on appeal due to its connection with the rating issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have started during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s puretone threshold average and speech discrimination scores did not warrant a compensable disability rating. The claims for service connection of right and left upper extremity disabilities, to include carpal tunnel syndrome, were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of hearing loss due to unclear in-service audiometric evaluations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinea pedis with onychomycosis) are rated at 70%, 30%, and 30% respectively. The combined rating is 90%. The Board finds that the Veteran's disabilities preclude him from participating in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim was remanded for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board found that his left ear hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not establish a direct nexus between these conditions and service. The Veteran's exposure to noise during service was conceded, but his current symptoms were not linked to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The decision also notes that post-service noise exposure does not significantly impact the determination of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's hearing loss. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is remanded due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions had their onset during active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar strain is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current hearing loss is related to active service.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for eczema, inner ear is denied due to lack of competent evidence of a current disability.