Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for increased ratings for right knee strain, left knee meniscus repair, and tinnitus are remanded as well as the claim for service connection for a right hip disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level I in both ears, resulting in a zero percent disability rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for further examination, as the VA examiner did not address whether it was aggravated by PTSD or related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's chronic kidney stones are also remanded for a medical opinion on their relationship to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD rating is denied for a period prior to August 24, 2016. The case is remanded for further development regarding his bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is determined to be related to his service, specifically the noise exposure from weapons fire during his military service. As a result, the claim for service connection for hearing loss has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as defined by VA regulations. The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine if his service-connected conditions require the assistance of another person.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for coccidiomycosis, meningitis, mini strokes, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a current disability, but granted service connection for tinnitus based on continuity of symptoms since service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for varicose veins in the left leg from November 17, 2014 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss as secondary to service-connected cholesteatoma, but denied right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is granted as service connected. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action on several issues, including service connection and rating determinations. The effective date of March 12, 2011, has been granted for the grant of service connection for right neck muscle injury.

The Veteran's service connection and increased rating issues are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions. The TDIU issue is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete information regarding his National Guard service. The VA needs to verify these periods of active service and obtain an addendum opinion from a medical examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to noise in service, which is conceded, and his current hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to this exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 0 percent, as the audiometric evaluations consistently showed Level I hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, and he is now eligible for a TDIU. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, right eye condition, depression, bilateral foot condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, left hip condition, left elbow condition, left knee condition, erectile dysfunction, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been resolved.