Hearing loss decisions — 2019

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

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 8, 2017 for service connection of tinnitus and hearing loss were denied as the earliest allowable date under VA regulations is August 8, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

Entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied.,Entitlement to initial compensable evaluations for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve in both lower extremities, as well as radiculopathy of the femoral nerve in both lower extremities, is remanded.,Entitlement to a TDIU prior to December 23, 2016, is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity has not yet reached the level required for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and military service.,Evidence showed in-service noise exposure but no evidence of hearing loss until over 45 years post-military discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied as his service-connected condition has been manifested by no worse than Level VI hearing impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is denied for a lumbar spine disorder and PFB.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss prior to November 27, 2018 is denied as there was no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability in the right ear.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, effective March 17, 2011. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to June 14, 2017 and 70 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 30 percent since January 8, 2019. Prior to December 4, 2017, the rating was noncompensable and from December 4, 2017 to January 7, 2019, it was 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for chronic arthritis due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between current conditions and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right wrist strain. The claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine, right ankle strain with instability and fibrosis, and eczema have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be further evaluated with a new opinion considering recent studies and articles.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a depressive disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to in-service acoustic trauma and resolving all doubts in his favor.