Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure. All reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU due to his right hip disability, left ear hearing loss, right knee disability, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure, while his hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a current disability, or any link to service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Graves' disease with exophthalmos, cataracts, and dry eyes (to include as secondary to service-connected tension headaches), presbyopia, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss on an extra-schedular basis prior to January 11, 2005 due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's dizziness and his left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service, or within one year after service separation. The Board also found that the Veteran's lay reports were not credible.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, Parkinson’s disease, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, depression) have all been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because a timely notice of disagreement was not received within one year from the February 2013 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and COPD.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for right-knee arthritis, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied a compensable initial evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current levels of impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as they did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology was not established.,An acquired psychiatric disorder was not diagnosed during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.

The VA has denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss as the audiometric testing results do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during service. Service connection was denied for left cochleovestibular dysfunction (claimed as vertigo) as secondary to bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing medical records.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for residuals of traumatic brain injury is dismissed. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity regarding which speech discrimination test was used in the Veteran's August 2011 private audiological examination. The AOJ must request clarification from Dr. Kim, and provide the Veteran with an opportunity to obtain this information directly.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of 13 issues, including service connection claims for various conditions and disability ratings. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is now rated at 100 percent effective August 10, 2018. The Veteran also receives special monthly compensation based on deafness in both ears beginning August 10, 2018.