Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further examination and opinion as the current VA examiner did not provide adequate opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at a 40 percent rating, which is the maximum available under current VA regulations. The Board found that his hearing loss did not meet criteria for higher ratings due to the nature of the disability and the lack of exceptional patterns.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by hearing acuity worse than Level II in the left ear and Level I in the right ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and bilateral tinnitus) prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective September 28, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is as likely as not causally related to his in-service exposure to noise from jet engines.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of earlier effective date for bilateral hearing loss, initial increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of delayed treatment for blood poisoning.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right ear hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of current hearing impairment meeting VA criteria.

The appeals for loss of strength in the left hand and wrist, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity have been dismissed.,Service connection is granted for a low back disability. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure, as there is insufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for right hip surgery residuals is denied as he does not have current residuals of the in-service condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence of a current disability and the Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest within one year after service.,Tinnitus was not shown during active service, and the record is against a finding that any currently claimed tinnitus is causally related to the Veteran’s active service or any incident therein.,The criteria for entitlement to service connection for PTSD have not been met. The Board found no evidence of current disability and determined that the Veteran does not meet DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence showing current sensorineural hearing loss. The nasal condition and its residuals are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus rendered him unemployable as of November 25, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and hypertension due to incomplete information from previous VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for residuals of left varicocele is remanded due to failure to issue a Statement of the Case.