Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran’s claimed herbicide exposure while stationed in Korea and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder strain.

The Board denied service connection for right elbow fracture, torn right bicep, left ear hearing loss, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, and meralgia paresthetica as there is no credible evidence of an in-service event or injury that resulted in these conditions.,Service connection was not granted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection. The right ear hearing loss issue was remanded due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to loud noises during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a present disability. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to aggravation by military noise exposure. Total disability due to individual unemployability is granted based on his service-connected disabilities. The rating for COPD remains at 30 percent, but the case is remanded for a new examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected. The Veteran's vision disability, low back disability, left ankle disability, and bruises on the left side of body are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to service, as there is insufficient evidence in the record regarding the onset of these conditions during or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and depression) due to incomplete explanations in previous VA opinions, lack of a confirmed stressor event for PTSD, and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete information in the service treatment records, including a November 1972 uninterpreted audiogram. The Veteran's current hearing loss may be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, PTSD, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim, but did not find it sufficient to grant service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his period of active duty service. The Veteran is advised that he may file a separate claim for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as he failed to meet his burden of establishing current disabilities that are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is causally related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his conditions were not found to warrant increased ratings or service connection. His PTSD remains at 30 percent, and he does not have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic conditions within a presumptive period.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but the issue of residuals of a right pinky finger injury is remanded due to lack of examination.