Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted, and the claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and loss of balance due to outstanding treatment records and addendum opinions.

The Veteran is granted TDIU from August 20, 2015 to February 7, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal for prior dates was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board has decided the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded it.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted, but the service connection for hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's DIC claim was denied because his service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, as he did not have a period of at least 10 years of total disability rating prior to death. The accrued benefits claim was also denied as there were no pending claims at the time of his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hepatitis C was denied, and the claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, eye disability, headaches, scar on the left forehead, and acid reflux have been granted. The initial ratings assigned are as follows: 10% for hearing loss, no rating for eye disability, noncompensable (0%) for headaches, 30% for acid reflux, and a separate 10% for the scar on the left forehead.

The Veteran's hearing loss is found to be due to exposure to loud noise in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of chondromalacia right knee and increased rating for left arm scar.

The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran requires aid and attendance solely because of his service-connected disabilities, as well as whether he is permanently housebound by reason of such disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and type II diabetes mellitus are all granted as service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the feet as secondary to diabetes and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and back disability have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's vertigo and hypogonadism were not found to be related to service or his service-connected conditions. The seizure disorder was granted as secondary to hepatitis C, while the acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression, anxiety, and insomnia) was also linked to the seizure disorder and hepatitis C.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and a higher rating for hepatitis C was not warranted due to lack of incapacitating episodes.