Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability ratings and TDIU status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete Reserve records and unverified ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA periods of service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened, and he is granted secondary service connection. His tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines. The Veteran's CAD with stable angina is rated as 10 percent disabling since July 1, 2014. He is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive symptoms. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spondylosis, spinal stenosis, L-5 radiculopathy, and lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) due to unclear in-service events or injuries that relate to these conditions. Further development is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has not received a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service noise exposure and its relation to his current bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and a left ankle disorder due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable rating for his service-connected residuals of a left 3rd metatarsal fracture.

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

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,An effective date prior to June 6, 2016 for service connection of degenerative disc disease lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,Entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.,Service connection for a cardiac disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.,,,

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss disability is related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis status post (s/p) total knee arthroplasty, right knee osteoarthritis s/p total knee arthroplasty, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his disability and its functional effects.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere’s disease was denied as there is no evidence of its occurrence during service.,Service connection and compensation for degenerative arthritis of spine, radiculopathy of right lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic sinus disability were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeals period, as it meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere’s disease was denied as there is no evidence of its occurrence during service.,Service connection and compensation for degenerative arthritis of spine, radiculopathy of right lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic sinus disability were remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right ear hearing loss should be remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service.,His neck muscle change was not linked to service.