Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to provide supporting rationale for conclusions.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss was reopened and granted. A 20 percent rating is assigned for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's insomnia disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected low back disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, right upper extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy are remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition. The issue of a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA's definition. Service connection was granted for ischemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus, type 2 as due to exposure to herbicides.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as it was incurred in service.,Service connection for asthma is denied because the condition did not manifest during or within one year after service discharge and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service connection for heart disability, including atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease, is denied due to lack of in-service onset and failure to establish a nexus to service.,Service connection for kidney disability, including hydronephrosis, kidney cysts, kidney calculi, and chronic kidney disease, is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service onset or a nexus to service.,Service connection for basal cell carcinoma is denied because the condition did not manifest during or within one year after service discharge and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied due to lack of an in-service onset and failure to establish a nexus to service.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Tinnitus and right shoulder disability are granted service connection, but the rating for hemorrhoid with rectal prolapse and scar is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of head injury (dizziness and unsteady gait), and psychiatric disability have been denied. The appeals are dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, residuals of head injury (also claimed as dizziness and unsteady gait), and psychiatric disability have been denied. The appeals are dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss contributed to his unemployability prior to March 1, 2010. Therefore, an effective date of March 1, 2009, is the earliest possible date for which the Veteran would be entitled to a TDIU.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been granted. The issue of service connection for malignant neoplasm of pharynx and tonsil remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate etiology medical opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding exposure to military noise during active duty are considered, and new etiology opinions must be obtained that address these concerns.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, neuropathy of the deep peroneal nerve associated with residuals of metatarsal fracture of the left foot, and residuals of a metatarsal fracture of the left foot disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and angina have been dismissed.,The petition to reopen the claim for hemorrhoids was granted, but only partially. The petition to reopen the claim for headaches was also granted, but only partially.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between his current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied reopening the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied due to the absence of a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The claim was reopened due to new evidence showing hearing loss and a back disorder.