Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has ordered a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear disabilities, including hearing loss, ear pain/earaches, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate addressing of certain issues in previous examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating, effective from the date of his claim. He is also granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, IBS, anxiety disorder, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left and right knee patellofemoral arthritis have all been granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded separate ratings for his lower extremity and knee conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not show a nexus to in-service noise exposure or continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability, as his claims have changed and he requested a second opinion.

The claim of service connection for residuals of perforated eardrums, claimed as tympanic membrane injury with bilateral hearing loss, is granted. The Veteran's military personnel records reflect a possible tympanic membrane injury in September 1967, but the record does not contain current evidence of a disability or any opinion regarding a nexus between the current disability and the in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since October 30, 2006. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of an increase in disability warranting a higher rating from March 6, 2012 to September 24, 2013 and from September 24, 2013 onwards.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for hearing loss, COPD, and basal cell carcinoma are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Further VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has not made a decision on the service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence. The case is being remanded for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss has been denied. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is currently rated at 70% and remains denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss had improved since his previous examinations, warranting a reduction from 40% to 10%. The decision is based on current examination results and does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of chronic in-service hearing impairment or continuity of symptomatology.,The Veteran's fungal feet and toenails are not entitled to an initial compensable disability rating as the condition does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.