Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has found that additional development is needed prior to final adjudication of the issues on appeal, specifically a new VA examination for the Veteran's back condition due to his spina bifida. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to missing military personnel records that may contain additional information relevant to the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's MOS as a steelworker involved noise exposure, but his service connection claims are being reviewed again.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran passed away before a decision could be made.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, COPD and emphysema, and lower back degenerative disc disease should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, cervical spondylosis C5-C6 and C6-C7, eczema, hearing loss, low back degenerative disc disease, PTSD, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, right shoulder rotator cuff pathology, and tinnitus are all granted service connection.,Effective dates for the above conditions have been set at December 16, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected as it was not shown to be caused by military noise exposure, but rather a balance of positive and negative evidence supports this finding. As such, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of a recent journal article in the VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran's hearing loss etiology needs further examination and discussion.

The Board has denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's right middle finger disability is denied a rating greater than 10 percent. The Veteran's right knee disability before October 28, 2014, and instability of the right knee are granted separate ratings. Bilateral hearing loss remains service-connected but without a compensable rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of hypertension, heat stroke, right knee condition, left knee condition, rib(s) condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition is remanded due to incomplete STRs.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent, the lowest possible rating. The Board found that his audiometric results did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, TBI, and headaches as secondary to TBI due to new evidence received. The Veteran's exposure during service is not specified.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for seizure disorder, headache disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are being considered as well.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were denied. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the PTSD rating issue.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claims for increased ratings for coronary artery disease and PTSD are remanded for further development.