Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss cannot be dissociated from his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanation of why the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to service, despite right ear hearing loss being linked to in-service noise exposure. The examiner needs to address whether the left ear hearing loss could be due to other service-related causes such as multiple left ear complaints for which he was treated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current disabilities for VA purposes due to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no legal basis to award higher schedular disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board denied the claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to new evidence. The PTSD claim is remanded, as are claims for TBI residuals and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for hernia resulting from VA care is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA medical records, specifically the results of a May 2012 audiogram. The Veteran is required to provide information about any other healthcare providers who have treated his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is able to perform activities such as golfing and water aerobics without symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating of anxiety disorder was granted, with a 10% rating from July 2012 and a 30% rating from March 2014. The appeal for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions have not worsened during the appeal period and are currently rated at their maximum allowable levels.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board found no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected, but denied his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain clarifying opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his current hearing loss is related to service or post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 2, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, right knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) due to a lack of current disability diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.