Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for his service-connected coronary artery disease and bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions manifested during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support his claims.,The Veteran was previously denied service connection for various conditions and now seeks reopening of these claims.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cholesteatoma with reconstruction of the inner right ear was reopened due to new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The effective date for service connection for tinnitus remains April 12, 2017.

The Veteran's heart disability, along with other service-connected conditions, does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable since December 10, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsening of his condition and thus denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus) have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, plantar fasciitis, and denied her request to reopen her previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hallux valgus. For the entire initial rating period on appeal beginning May 22, 2012, a 20 percent rating was granted for each of her right and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for residuals of cold injuries to the upper and lower extremities, as well as a low back disorder. The Veteran's statements regarding his military service and symptoms since service are considered in these cases.

The Veteran's vision impairment is not service-connected as it is due to a congenital defect and unrelated to in-service use of medication patches for sea-sickness.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both service-connected as they began during active service and are linked to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 10, 2016, for the grants of service connection and TDIU/DEA benefits are being remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied because he does not have a current disability as defined by VA. The Board finds that the Veteran's asthma disability had in-service onset or is otherwise related to his period of active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for neck disability, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), sinusitis, respiratory disability, and psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, have been dismissed. The VA has remanded the issues of service connection for sinusitis, respiratory disability, IBS, and PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for service connection for depressive disorder is granted.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran’s lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy (secondary to lumbar spine disability), asthma, congestive heart failure, and hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip condition, low back condition, and bilateral hearing loss were all denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to outstanding service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, including as due to a dental disability, due to an incomplete adjudication of the Veteran's eligibility claim for VA outpatient treatment for his claimed dental disability. The AOJ is required to refer this claim to VHA for adjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including residuals of pneumonia, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulitis, and GERD. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions.