Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss disability began during active duty and he was exposed to noise in the military.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, dyslipidemia, low back disorder, DJD of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet, skeletal body pain, diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and hypertension were all denied as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the effective dates for service connection of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are December 18, 2013. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for hearing loss was granted. Service connection for tinnitus, a fracture of the right ring finger, and bursitis of the right foot is also granted with appropriate compensable ratings. The underlying claims for left foot disability are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that these conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that both conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease as a residual of Agent Orange exposure is pending.

The Veteran's right tibia fracture and right ear pain claims have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim has also been denied, but the Veteran was granted a non-compensable rating for his service-connected hearing loss.,The Veteran's right shoulder injury claim has been remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that management of his diabetes required regulation of activities.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There was no indication of any in-service event, disease, or injury related to the Veteran's current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted, effective September 5, 2013. The awards of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are denied as not meeting the criteria for earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating.,The reduction from 30% to noncompensable for bilateral hearing loss was found improper and restored with effective date of January 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and otalgia were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during or shortly after his military service, and the Board found that they are not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a chronic disease under VA regulations and has been granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's prostate disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and right index finger condition are all granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a pre-existing condition for his prostate disorder but it was aggravated by service. For his hearing loss, the Board noted an upward shift in tested thresholds during service which indicated aggravation. His right index finger condition is also considered to have been caused by an injury sustained during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities were not causally related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, heart condition, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia, cervical spine disability, neurological impairment of the upper extremities, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded as his prostatitis may be related to his current prostate disability. Additional development is needed regarding whether he has any residual disability from the prostatitis shown in service.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, chronic gastritis with GERD, and hemorrhoids are being remanded as his most recent examinations in August 2017 were inadequate. Additional development is needed to determine the current functional impairment resulting from these disabilities.,

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The AOJ has discontinued appeals regarding other issues, including service connection for GERD, ischemic heart disease, and a respiratory condition; and entitlement to TDIU and an increased PTSD rating.