Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and increased ratings for PTSD were denied. The Veteran was also denied an effective date prior to October 28, 2015, for TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a head injury (including vertigo and headaches), and neck disability due to outstanding treatment records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma from working on loud diesel engines.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for left ear hearing loss was granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus, but not for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss or onychomycosis of the bilateral feet.

The Veteran's hearing loss has worsened since his last VA examination, and a new medical examination is required to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in January 2013, and the decision is final. The Veteran did not submit new and material evidence within one year of the denial.,Service connection for PTSD and TBI were granted effective from August 31, 2015, but the Veteran requested an earlier effective date.

A 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted from August 30, 2016 to October 9, 2018. The Veteran's auditory acuity levels were level IV in the right ear and level V in the left during this period.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, tension headaches with migraine variants, and tinnitus has been denied.,Effective dates for service connection of these conditions have also been denied.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: (1) reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private orthopedic clinic on June 3, 2013; and (2) prior authorization for non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on May 16 and 17, 2013. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed in both cases.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least ten years immediately preceding his death. However, the claim is denied because the Veteran did not meet the duration requirements for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, left wrist disorder, low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, traumatic cognitive disorder (mental disorder due to traumatic fall), seizure disorder, and left knee disorder. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the audiometric examinations did not show impairment that warranted a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart condition, bilateral lung condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II), and bilateral kidney condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, right radial traumatic neuropathy, degenerative changes to thoracolumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), bilateral hearing loss, TBI residuals, and headaches have all been denied. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy in either leg or any other service-connected condition related to the issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. Service connection for hyperlipidemia, neurogenic bladder, and hypertension are denied. The Veteran's heart condition (angina) and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are as likely as not related to the Veteran's military noise exposure during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and remands for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service.