Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for stomach disorder, colon disorder, acid reflux disorder, and skin disorder due to lack of a VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied, but his claims for sleep apnea and GERD are granted. The Board also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left arm conditions, PTSD, and hearing loss, prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have been met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service, and the disability did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss was not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's STRs are missing, which may have affected the August 2017 examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for his daily needs without requiring the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is found to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to noise exposure during service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran did not have hearing loss in service and that his current hearing impairment is unrelated to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation, hypertension, low back disorder, and prostate cancer. The appeals for headaches with loss of balance, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded.,Service connection was not granted for any of the conditions listed in the decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and some other conditions are granted service connection, but the Veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement for his diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on direct evidence of a current disability, in-service noise exposure, and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted as they are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional evidence and examinations, as well as a request for VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence submitted since the previous denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Board then determined that there is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, GERD, headaches (including migraines), hypertension, TBI residuals, seizures, lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, right and left shoulder disorders, right and left wrist disorders, elbow bursitis, bilateral hand disorder, knee disorders, eye disorder, sinus disorder with nose bleeds, and face trauma have all been denied.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has not met the criteria for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent.