Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection.

The claims to reopen the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle arthritis, back disability, bilateral lower extremity pain and swelling, left foot drop/abnormal gait, cervical spine/neck disability, residuals of a tibia fracture, right ear hearing loss, allergic condition, asthma, dermatitis (swelling of the groin area), and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) are granted. Service connection is established for these conditions based on their direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to exposure during active duty.,Diabetes mellitus type II is service-connected as a result of herbicide exposure, while prostate cancer and heart condition are also connected through this presumption.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of right knee strain with degenerative changes was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating based on limitation of motion. Service connection claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right foot disability were also addressed but no specific disposition is provided.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric/substance abuse disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 5, 2017 was denied. The appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for the period from October 5, 2017 onwards was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and sleep condition claims. The service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied as it was caused by dishonorable discharge events.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation due to his disability rating and other service-connected conditions.

Service connection is granted for a depressive disorder, but service connection is denied for hearing loss, glaucoma, heart disorders (claimed as high cholesterol), hypertension, ulcer disease and acid reflux.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of traumatic brain injury including headaches. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for left ear hearing loss, entitlement to right ear hearing loss, dizziness (claimed as dizzy spells), weakness, headaches, paresthesias, psychiatric disability, and sleep disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, pes planus, low back pain, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service, and the Board finds that the claimed conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, chondromalacia patella of the left and right knees with degenerative joint disease, and depression due to in-service noise exposure and service-connected arthritis of the back.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of chronic hearing loss during or within one year after service, and the Veteran's reports of continuous symptoms since service are not credible.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder was granted. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to diabetes is denied, as is service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to diabetes. The Veteran's asbestosis remains at a 30% disability rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied reopening of the claim for a respiratory disability due to asbestos exposure. The non-Hodgkin's lymphoma rating is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, Meniere’s syndrome or endolymphatic hydrops (dizziness and vertigo), tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus are all granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD.