Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no competent evidence showing a hearing loss disability during service or within one year following discharge from service.

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

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a respiratory infection, but has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The claims for right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his bilateral hearing loss has been granted. Service connection is denied for low back disability, cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, and right knee retropatellar syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also granted. The appeals seeking service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and hydrocele of the left testicle are dismissed. A disability rating of 20 percent (but no higher) for a shell fragment wound of the neck is granted.

The Board has decided that a new examination is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may affect his service connection claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as his testimony suggests an increase in severity since the last examination. The case is being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at zero percent (noncompensable) during both the November 2011 and December 2017 VA examinations, as his puretone thresholds did not exceed 55 decibels in any ear. The Veteran reported difficulty understanding conversations but no increase in severity compared to previous evaluations.

The appeal for service connection for loss of vision is dismissed.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a back condition involving the lumbar or cervical spine is remanded.,The rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, sinusitis, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are granted as service connected, with the conditions being related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and he should be provided a new VA audiology examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of his VA examination and allegations that his service-connected disability has worsened.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of arthritis, hypertension, heart murmur, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus during service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,There is also insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) as the claim was filed many years after service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 60 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of these conditions, which were related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for right elbow strain, left hip sprain, bilateral knee sprain, hearing loss, seasonal allergic rhinitis, and pneumonia (claimed as bronchitis). The appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was granted.

The Board previously denied TDIU, but the Veteran appealed to the Veterans Claims Court. The court vacated the decision and remanded it back to the Board for further action due to a lack of consideration of a specific private opinion.