Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded four issues: increased ratings for trapezius muscle injury and left upper extremity radiculopathy, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities and their etiology.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. However, the Board granted an increased rating to 70 percent effective May 22, 2017, based on updated audiometric results showing worsening hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate VA opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the Board granted a TDIU.

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to unclear evidence of a hearing disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at noncompensable prior to June 21, 2019 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Board denied the claim for increased ratings.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the heart condition and diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a medical research article. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for a back disability, right hip disability, eye disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for sleep apnea and a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether he can secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.,A new medical opinion is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sleep apnea and his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's initial hearing loss rating was reduced from 20% to noncompensable effective December 1, 2015. The RO found that the evidence did not counter the objective findings of his April 2015 VA examination and thus reduced his rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of sufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of Reiter's syndrome and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The GERD, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to loud noise during his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of heart disease, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus type II were not addressed as they have been granted in a separate decision.