Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss with a perforated right ear drum is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that additional development, including a VA examination, is needed to determine if the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status is denied, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as the evidence shows that his current condition is related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted the Veteran's tinnitus claim, but remanded the hearing loss issue for additional development.

The Veteran's 70% rating for bilateral hearing loss was restored effective October 1, 2019. The evidence did not show an actual improvement in the disability level.

The Veteran's request for a new examination due to his failure to report for the scheduled hearing has been granted. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA clinical records and scheduling an examination at a location closer to the Veteran’s home.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn regarding service connection for TMJ. The effective date of her grant of service connection for depression with anxiety and insomnia is denied as it should have been earlier than May 2, 2013.,Her initial rating for depression with anxiety and insomnia prior to June 20, 2016 was denied as the symptoms did not meet or approximate a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable, with the most recent audiometric evaluations showing Level II hearing impairment in both ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The issue of residuals of pneumonia was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. Residuals of traumatic brain injury and cervical spine disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and will require further examination to determine the presence of current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred in active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss on a direct basis, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with the worst audiological examination results corresponding to Level II for the 'better' ear and Level IV for the 'poorer' ear.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion, and further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Veteran's initial non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged, as his current hearing acuity does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of current tinnitus or a relationship to service.,Right ear hearing loss was not found to be present, thus denying the Veteran's claim for this condition.,Service connection for a back disability was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to in-service events.,The Veteran's DMII was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a relationship to any service-connected conditions.,The right leg disability, diagnosed as venous statis and varicose veins, was not found to be related to an in-service hernia operation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are due to noise exposure during active service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a more recent VA examination for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis and noise exposure during military service. The case will be further evaluated with additional medical opinions.