Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of residuals of a head injury and left eye injury are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are granted. The claim for an increased rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder, depressive with alcohol dependence syndrome is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least in equipoise with his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the Veteran's statements that his tinnitus had its onset during service and has continued since to be competent and credible, and resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection, but his Tietze’s syndrome and left knee disability are denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10% prior to May 4, 2017 and increased to 20% from May 4, 2017 to May 18, 2017. Since then, the rating has been denied.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 19, 1988.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The claims for service connection of the right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has found that the September 2018 addendum opinions do not substantially comply with the December 2017 remand, because they do not adequately address the relationship between the Veteran’s hazardous noise exposure and current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities. As such, another remand is required.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and a headache disability. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 5, 2017. His service-connected disabilities are deemed sufficient for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not have its onset in service and was not related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the most recent valid audiometric results show Level III hearing loss in each ear, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the connection between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions had their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened. The Board has found that the evidence received since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, thus reopening them. Service connection is granted for both conditions.