Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received after the April 2017 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now entitled to a 100% rating. Service connection for tinnitus is remanded as the RO has not yet issued a Statement of the Case on this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected, but his tinnitus is service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, proteinuria, BPH, and anemia. The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,There is no direct evidence linking any of these conditions to military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right ear hearing loss disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and his right ear hearing loss did not manifest during or within a presumptive period after service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension and his request for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss were both denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

Service connection is denied for bilateral pes planus, lumbar strain, scoliosis, bilateral ankle disorder (shin splints), fibromyalgia, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is granted for tinnitus.,The Veteran's pes planus was noted at the time of entrance into service but did not permanently worsen in active service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a need for a complete record, including SSA disability records.

The Veteran's appeals seeking higher ratings for his lumbar spine, cervical spine, left shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him disabled to the extent that he requires regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Service connection has not been established for proctocolectomy and surgical residuals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee condition and left knee condition as directly incurred in service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is denied as she does not have a current disability.,The Veteran’s breast cancer with lumpectomy, including as due to exposure to hazardous materials, and her psychiatric disorder including PTSD (due to military sexual trauma and/or as secondary to breast cancer) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's GERD claim is remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.,The Veteran’s left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition), and right upper extremity condition (secondary to cervical spine condition) claims are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left lower extremity and right lower extremity conditions are also remanded in conjunction with the breast cancer claim.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have been remanded due to a failure to timely file a notice of disagreement. The AOJ should now issue a Statement of the Case regarding these issues.

The Board dismissed the appeals for hearing loss, tinnitus, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for Parkinson's disease was denied as there is no evidence of the condition prior to May 14, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, kidney disease, and diabetes due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military noise exposure.