Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's surviving spouse is being asked to provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, prostate disorder, erectile dysfunction, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and others. The claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with a rating of 50 percent. The effective date for this rating is not specified in the decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate or incomplete examination in determining whether hearing loss is related to service. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA and hypertension, finding new and material evidence. However, the claim for service connection for diverticulitis remains denied as there is no medical nexus between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension has been denied due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss may have worsened since his last VA examination, and he needs to be scheduled for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are not adequate due to missing service medical records. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded for further action, including obtaining missing service medical records and scheduling a VA audiology examination.

An effective date of February 10, 2014, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. An initial rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the claims of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding their relationship to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his non-service connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral knee disorder have been denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on exposure to noise during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating and earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the criteria for a noncompensable rating were not met, and there was no legal entitlement to an earlier effective date.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused or aggravated by his service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 27, 2017 was denied. From February 27, 2017 through the present, his rating remains at 90 percent.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss were remanded due to the need for a statement of the case regarding the effective dates.