Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and urinary bladder cancer are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the claims were not filed within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's left cubital tunnel syndrome is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for left hip strain, right eye glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for left shoulder disability was granted, and he is currently receiving a 30% rating.,VA denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of September 19, 2006 for his service connection for hearing loss in the right ear.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The petitions to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities, were granted. However, these issues are still pending as they have been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current right ear hearing loss disability and concluded that the left ear hearing loss is not related to his service. For the low back disability, a 20 percent rating is granted from October 9, 2018; ratings in excess are denied.

Service connection is granted for right foot gout.,Service connection is granted for a bilateral knee condition secondary to service-connected hip conditions.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) secondary to service-connected degenerative disc disease with IVDS and lumbar facet degenerative arthrosis and chronic lumbar pain syndrome claimed as lower back condition.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,Remand is required for further evaluation of a right thigh disability.,Remand is required for further evaluation of a respiratory condition.,Remand is required to obtain private treatment records and determine the relationship between any kidney conditions (including erectile dysfunction or Peyronie's Disease) and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The appeals for service connection of the left-hand condition, right-hand condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, asbestosis, lung cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar area (head/neck cancer) are dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for lung cancer is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and has also granted service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The claim for tinnitus was granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus he did not have a valid appeal to consider.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss in his right ear is at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or otherwise related to exposure to noise. The VA examinations were adequate for rating purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 16, 2016 for a 60 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for bilateral hearing loss from September 16, 2016 was also denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has deteriorated since his last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder has been granted. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss, right forearm disability (prior to January 26, 2018), and left eye disability is denied. A rating of 10 percent for the right forearm disability prior to January 26, 2018, was granted. For the period from January 26, 2018 onwards, a higher rating than 30 percent is not warranted. The claim for service connection for right ulnar nerve neuropathy and left eye disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as the current evidence does not account for the Veteran's and his family members' observations of hearing loss immediately after service.