Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and readjudication due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease (IHD), nephrosclerosis, and headaches due to a failure to report for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent prior to July 12, 2016 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for his acquired psychiatric disorder is being remanded.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 12, 2016 is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hearing loss in left ear due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to December 18, 2018, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter following that date was denied. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has found that service connection is warranted for tinnitus. However, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains in dispute and requires further examination to determine if it is related to service or aggravated by tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as level III in both ears, resulting in a zero percent evaluation. The Board denied entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus granting the claim.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for right ankle, back, left foot, and right foot disabilities are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a right ring finger laceration are both granted. The decision on the latter is based on direct evidence, while the former remains denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for an eye disorder as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were established based on in-service noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes, heart condition, peripheral neuropathy, psychiatric disability, and hearing loss has been granted.,Service connection is established for diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least in equipoise whether his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had an acoustic trauma during his active duty service, experienced continuous symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus since service, and established a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including knee disability, shin splints, flat feet, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for further medical examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is rated as Level II in both ears, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The Board finds the Veteran not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability. For pulmonary fibrosis, the case is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for a right ear hearing loss disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis, hearing loss, and asthma have been reopened. The Board found that the evidence submitted since the March 2008 rating decision relates to an unestablished fact (a relationship between his service and these conditions) and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating their claims.