Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability originated during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for poor eyesight, bilateral arthritis, unspecified, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (high blood pressure), sexual dysfunction, and diabetes mellitus have been dismissed or are pending due to the need for further examination. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, low back disorder, right and left hip disorders, and right knee disorder. The decision also remanded a claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to properly adjudicate the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an increased initial rating for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unclear documentation regarding when these conditions started, and a need for additional examination with rationale.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of adequate explanation in the previous VA opinion. The Veteran's preexisting hearing loss is being reviewed again to determine if it was aggravated by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease is denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or limitation of motion to 30 degrees.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, ischemic heart disease (IHD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The claims for service connection for a back disability, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and alcohol abuse disorder), and hypertension are all remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military noise exposure. The claims were reopened due to new evidence showing a current diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and active service.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral tinnitus and initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability are granted, but the issue of an initial compensable evaluation is remanded due to worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on audiometric and speech recognition test results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a lack of adequate consideration in the previous VA examination. The Veteran contends that his current hearing loss is related to military noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. The claims for left foot disability and cervical spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. The claims for left foot disability and cervical spine disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding their relationship to active duty service.