Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing disability. The Board also noted that post-service treatment records did not show complaints or diagnosis of hearing loss until over 20 years after separation from service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's hearing loss is presumed to be related to his Vietnam-era service, as are his tinnitus and diabetes.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the Veteran’s report of noise exposure during service consistent with the record and concludes that entitlement to service connection is warranted due to credible reports of onset in service and continuity thereafter. Service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded as there are no other opinions addressing its etiology.

The Board found that the withholding of drill pay and termination of benefits for training days in fiscal years 2009 through 2012 was proper, as it did not violate the prohibition on concurrent receipt of active service pay and VA disability compensation.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinusitis due to new and material evidence. The claim for erectile dysfunction remains denied as there is no direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began during his military service and is related to exposure to jet engine noise.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure, as well as whether tinnitus aggravates the hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent audiometric testing showing hearing acuity levels of Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear. The Board found that this level does not warrant a compensable rating.

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 military noise exposure.,Service connection was also granted for lumbar spondylosis (claimed as back pain), with the Board noting conflicting medical opinions but finding a nexus based on the Veteran's history of heavy lifting during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, left shoulder condition, and right ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure and the Veteran's current hearing loss is more likely due to his post-service work environment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability has been reopened, but the Board finds that further development is needed as there are no VA examinations or opinions regarding her bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral hip disability. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule the Veteran for appropriate medical examinations, and provide an opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided service connection for tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not a disability for VA purposes due to it not meeting the regulatory requirements. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU under extraschedular criteria, finding that the schedular evaluations adequately capture his hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be manifested by hearing acuity of no worse than Level III in the right ear and no worse than Level IV in the left ear, resulting in a 10 percent disability rating. The Board granted the claim for an increased rating of 10 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and jaw disorder did not comply with the November 2016 remand directives. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a link between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. Service connection is therefore denied.,Service connection was denied for hypothyroidism as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's claim for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma has also been denied due to lack of a diagnosis in service or soon after discharge.,The Veteran's Peyronie’s disease claim remains pending, with the Board finding that current evidence does not support a diagnosis in service or shortly after separation from active duty.,Service connection was denied for allergic rhinitis as there is no evidence of obstruction meeting the criteria set forth in VA's rating schedule. The Veteran's request for an increased disability rating remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.