Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hearing loss has worsened, as evidenced by a November 2018 private audiometry report. However, the report is incomplete due to lack of Maryland CNC test results. The Board remanded for a new audiological examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and any associated functional impairment.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is sufficiently severe to inhibit his ability to obtain gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left hand and right hand disabilities due to insufficient information in the claims file regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 9, 2014 for the award of service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim for this condition within one year after separation from active duty.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and will require further examination to determine the current nature, extent, and severity of his hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating based on the objective audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to a lack of VA examination capabilities. The Veteran is asked to obtain his own medical opinions/examinations and provide them to VA, along with authorizations for any relevant records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus (including secondary to bilateral hearing loss) due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service. The Veteran and his sister testified that he first noticed hearing issues during his last part of service, which continued to decline.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. The issues of increased ratings for radiculopathy and lumbar spondylosis, as well as service connection for COPD and TDIU, have been remanded.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as there are inconsistencies in the audiometric evaluations and no opinion was provided regarding whether the condition is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss and vertigo claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss in both ears and tinnitus due to incomplete factual history and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma. The Veteran underwent a VA examination in November 2014, but the examiner provided a negative nexus opinion based on normal hearing at separation without considering delayed onset or continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,For bilateral hearing loss, a VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran has a current disability and its etiology.

The Board has restored a 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected hearing loss, effective from September 1, 1971 to October 27, 2015. The reduction of this rating was found to be improper due to lack of observance of law and based on legal principles regarding chronic sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, specifically noise exposure in service. The claim will be reviewed again with additional medical examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD and bilateral hearing loss due to outstanding private and VA treatment records being needed.