Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision found no link between the current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure, while finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on noise exposure during aircraft maintenance, but there are conflicting audiometric results from different periods of service.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxiety is granted a rating of 70 percent, effective October 9, 2012. The hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Board denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have worsened, and he is requesting a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities. The Board has also noted that the Veteran is currently receiving the maximum schedular rating for his tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on evidence showing a relationship between his current condition and military service. The decision also notes that while there was no significant threshold shift at service separation, the absence of such does not preclude a grant of service connection for subsequently demonstrated hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate response and further development is required. Specifically, a new advisory medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his service.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for tinnitus is denied as he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular disability rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and diabetes mellitus, type II are both denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were present during service or within one year after discharge.,Diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity is also denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for a seizure disorder is denied based on the Veteran's denial of having such a condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches prior to March 22, 2016 remains pending. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right/left knee disabilities are also pending. The Veteran's request for TDIU is also pending.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including a right lower extremity disorder, headaches, sleep apnea, gout, left knee disorder, right foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (HTN), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening the claims or establishing service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred during his military service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically missing audiograms from 2011 and 2012. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing VA medical records, including a January 2016 audiometric evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, heart disease, hypertension, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction have been reopened. The evidence now shows a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, particularly his established history of in-service acoustic trauma due to significant noise exposure. As a result, the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, and spinal meningitis. The decision also remanded several issues related to these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as the current opinion was based on the absence of in-service evidence of hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.