Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal audiometric results at both entrance and separation from service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss, as well as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, are granted. The calcaneal spurs of both feet receive a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating. The effective date of service connection for his hearing loss is set at August 28, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and/or an inner ear disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, and degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.,Claims for service connection for respiratory condition, ear, nose and throat disability, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type 2 have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,Service connection for a sleep disorder, migraine headaches, and esophageal cancer is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability should be remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's muscle cramps of the extremities, back, and abdomen are granted service connection. However, his bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, as the submitted evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. The claim for an increased evaluation was granted but at a low level.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and disorientation and slight dizziness, but denied the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's current disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the rating for his bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there was no increase in severity of pre-existing hearing loss during service and the separation examination showed normal hearing. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence from an ENT specialist, and a new addendum opinion is needed.

Service connection for left ear hearing loss and a disability manifested by a left side head knot is denied.,A compensable rating for the Veteran's left heel scar is denied, as there are no scars that meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headache. The cervical spine disability was not found to be related to service due to lack of evidence in the service treatment records. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet VA compensation standards as there were no audiometric results showing hearing loss for VA purposes. Migraine headaches were determined to be unrelated to service or service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not found to have started during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease. His bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a current disability under VA regulations, as there were no audiometric results showing hearing loss for VA purposes. Migraine headaches were determined to be unrelated to service due to lack of evidence in the service treatment records.

The Board's November 3, 2004 decision was found to be clearly and unmistakably erroneous in denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The appeal is granted due to the Veteran having a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability and continuous post-service symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to a rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus.