Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae was denied due to lack of current disability. The Board found no new and material evidence, thus denying the reopening of this claim. Service connection for erectile dysfunction and hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's time in service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability but granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service and no link to in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of the evidence indicated that the current hearing loss did not begin during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from April 13, 2017 to December 18, 2018. The claim for a higher rating prior to April 13, 2017 and in excess of 10 percent after December 18, 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as Other Specified Stressor and Trauma Related Disorder, is granted with an effective date of August 27, 2013. However, his request for earlier effective dates are denied.,The Veteran's increased rating claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted with a 60% disability rating effective January 29, 2014. His request for an earlier effective date is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 30% since April 11, 2017. His prostatitis claim resulted in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran has elected to withdraw his appeals for various service connection claims, including those related to lung disorders, TBI, headaches, eye and teeth disorders, back issues, ankle and foot problems, and hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded it for further development. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and a rating in excess of 40 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI). The decision found that there was no evidence of any other psychiatric disability superimposed on his preexisting personality disorder. Right ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable based on the audiometric results. For TBI, the Board noted that cognitive impairment is a common result and should be evaluated under the appropriate table.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD is granted, and the case is remanded for further development regarding his hearing loss claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are linked to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and evaluations for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as a chronic disease diagnosed in service, which was later again diagnosed in a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the back and right knee disability secondary to left knee disability are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a nasal disorder, deviated septum. The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, and skin cancer are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, which he attributes to exposure to loud noise during his active duty service.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is attributed to post-service noise exposure, and there is no probative evidence linking it to active duty service.