Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as there has been an intervening period since his last VA examination and he alleges worsening.

The Board has determined that additional VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current evidence does not provide a clear opinion on these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current evidence does not provide a clear opinion on these conditions.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since October 29, 2012. The right ear hearing loss disability was not referred for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and the claim for an increased rating is denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates of August 10, 2015 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was also granted an effective date of January 7, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and left knee scar have been remanded by the Board.,No effective date has been established for any of these issues as they are currently pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran contends that his hearing loss is related to noise exposure during military service, but a VA examiner found no causal link based on the absence of in-service medical records and inadequate reasoning.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 17, 2014 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as Level II in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus because new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim, specifically a causal link between active service and his current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that the conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability during or after service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's hypertension, GERD, ED, insomnia, and depression are related to his military service.,The Veteran did not have any complaints, treatment, or diagnosis for these conditions in service. There is also no evidence linking them to his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision is based on credible lay testimony regarding noise exposure during service and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim on an extraschedular basis is denied as his disability picture does not present an exceptional situation that makes the available schedular evaluation inadequate, and there is no evidence indicating he cannot obtain employment in a field that does not lend itself to carrying items.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition (degenerative arthritis) and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied both claims as there is no causal relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is also granted, but the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability recognized as a VA disability. The initial ratings for left third digit crush injury with residual flexion loss (left third finger disability), gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia (GERD), and carpal tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities are granted.