Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for a right foot condition due to insufficient evidence.

The appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The right ring finger contusion with history of infected nail bed remains denied.

Service connection is denied for a lumbar spine disorder.,Service connection is granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia.,An effective date of September 12, 2011, but no earlier, has been granted for service connection for headaches. The Veteran's informal claim was received on that date.,The effective date for the award of service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as it cannot be earlier than December 21, 2011.,The effective date for the award of service connection for sleep apnea is denied as it cannot be earlier than December 21, 2011.,The effective date for the award of service connection for tinnitus is denied as it cannot be earlier than December 21, 2011.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as new and material evidence had not been received.,Claims for increased evaluations of hammertoes, right ear hearing loss, and scars were also denied due to failure to appear for VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been remanded for a new VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (Level I) throughout the appeal period, and he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for the residuals of a nose injury, including headaches, nausea, dizziness, hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection was granted for tinnitus.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for service connection for immersion foot and shrapnel right arm/wrist with pain are remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise with regard to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service records and a need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for duodenal ulcer is granted with a rating of 20 percent, effective February 19, 2015.

The Veteran's back and hearing loss disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation to determine their current severity.

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

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for service connection for heart condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional examination and development of records. The Veteran's vertigo or imbalance is being evaluated in relation to his bilateral hearing loss, and an extraschedular rating may be considered.

The Veteran's AHD rating was restored from August 1, 2015 to June 26, 2016.,The Veteran also received a TDIU effective from the date of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a link to service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.