Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the issue of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury remains pending and requires further review.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran’s current symptoms do not meet the criteria for service connection as her conditions are not currently diagnosed.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his bilateral ear disability and dizziness and headaches as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The decision is due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his hearing loss, frequency of his headaches and dizziness, and the underlying disease causing his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims due to missing service treatment records from the Veteran's Army Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently conceded, and a VA otolaryngologist needs to provide an addendum opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's tinnitus and service, as well as a need for an addendum opinion on the hearing loss claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are related to his military service, specifically his time stationed in Turkey. The other two issues (bilateral hearing loss and skin condition) remain denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension as secondary to PTSD and service connection for chest pain, but granted service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for a right wrist disability, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities for these conditions.,Additionally, the Veteran's claim for a sleeping disorder associated with PTSD has also been denied.

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

The Board has decided that the reduction of the evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 20 percent to noncompensable was proper, but it is remanding the case due to issues with evidence and missing VA records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10 percent rating from October 23, 2018, through August 31, 2019; and at a 30 percent rating from September 1, 2019, through October 31, 2019.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as his conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's Meniere’s syndrome with vertigo is granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent, effective from February 13, 2015. The separate ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are reinstated.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing it is related to military service. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure did not result in current hearing loss.,Service connection for heart condition (claimed as PVCs with arrhythmia) and lumbar spine condition are remanded because the VA examination conducted prior to the May 2018 rating decision on appeal was insufficient.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current disability meeting the VA definition of a hearing loss disability, and the evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for a new VA medical opinion considering the higher puretone thresholds in his March 1964 separation audiogram when converted to ISO-ANSI units.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities, right knee disability, shin splints of the lower extremities, and low back disability. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also granted as new and relevant evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar disability have been granted. The initial rating for the lumbar disability is set at 40 percent effective April 12, 2013.