Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion considering a medical article on delayed and progressive hearing loss from acoustic trauma.

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 are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examination regarding the aggravation of pre-existing hearing loss. The right ear hearing loss claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss, tinnitus, and post-operative left eardrum perforation prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that an additional VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as he testified that his condition has worsened since the last examination. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, coronary artery disease, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The appeals for service connection of left hip disability, right hip disability, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the claim for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal for left elbow strain was dismissed as he withdrew the claim prior to a decision.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a right leg condition due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or within one year after service.,The Board found that there was no current evidence of a right leg condition, as the Veteran did not claim such in his application or briefs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's right knee disability, including as secondary to his left knee condition, is denied due to lack of service-connected disability and insufficient evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no in-service event, injury, or disease, and the August 2017 private provider opinion is inadequate.,The Veteran's tinnitus is denied due to lack of an in-service onset and insufficient evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's kidney disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his exposure to hazardous noises while in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate rationale in the May 2019 medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset in service or is otherwise related to service. The Veteran was exposed to noise during his duties with the munitions maintenance squadron, and he waited several years after discharge to have his hearing checked.

The Veteran's vertigo, sinus infection, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and voiding dysfunction are not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for prostate cancer service connection and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet eligibility criteria for the provisions allowing for an earlier effective date due to the liberalizing law regarding herbicide agent exposure, as he was not diagnosed with prostate cancer until after the effective date of the law.

The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted, but his claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's National Guard or Army Reserves service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral pes planus, right foot and toe cold weather injury (frostbite), hypertension, and muscle spasm with leg cramps to the right quad affecting the right knee are being remanded due to procedural errors.,The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

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