Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence linking it to military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands the cases for further development, including a new examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, hemorrhoids, poor circulation in the right leg, thyroid disability (hypothyroidism), and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or any link to service.,For heart disability, the Veteran was granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's TDIU appeal is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion on the combined impact of his service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must obtain VA medical records and schedule him for an examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of hearing loss began during service and have been continuous since then. The decision is based on direct service connection due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen his previously denied claim. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for bladder cancer and depression, reopening of previously denied hearing loss and sleep apnea claims, an increased rating for PTSD, and a TDIU. The remand requires further medical opinions regarding these matters.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development and review of the evidence, including a recent VA audiology examination report.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has increased in severity since his last VA examination. The claim is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hand osteoarthritis has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal regarding an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 13, 2017 is denied. The appeal regarding a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss from November 13, 2017 onwards is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) since July 2016. The VA examiner found the Veteran had Level I hearing impairment in both ears, which corresponds to a zero percent rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an insufficient opinion regarding the relationship between current hearing loss and tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was dismissed. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective April 11, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise to support these conditions.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's left and right hip disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates ranging from August 11, 1995 to September 17, 2014. The application to reopen the claim of service connection for psychiatric disability has also been granted.