Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and cervical spine disability are granted. The right hip and left foot disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a failure to provide adequate evidence and notification, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the original decisions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed.,The claim for a higher rating for PTSD has been denied, as the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical nexus opinion.

An effective date of August 15, 2014, for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the wrists, and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied readjudication of the claim for hearing loss as no new and relevant evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted. The restoration of a 30 percent rating for disfiguring chin and lip scars effective April 29, 2016 has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and clarification of the Veteran's conditions, specifically regarding his abdomen and right ankle disabilities. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus (which were granted), and rating adjustments for the shell fragment wounds.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, tinnitus, dental disability, memory loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a significant threshold shift in hearing. The Board also found no continuity of symptomatology leading to a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, as well as asthma, was granted. Service connection is also granted for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to his active duty in the 1970s and was more likely caused by exposure to noise after discharge from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and bilateral leg cramps are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The Board notes that the Veteran has not submitted any specific argument with respect to his claimed sleep disorder.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg cramps and right shoulder tendinitis are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back pain is remanded as the evidence does not show a current diagnosis of a back disability. The Board notes that the Veteran reported back myalgias in August 2010.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder with depressed mood) and eye disability are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder tendinitis is remanded to determine if it is related to shoulder pain during service. The Board notes that the Veteran reported shoulder pain since 2007.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain and eye disability are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inability to verify the Appellant's claimed military service, specifically his Reserve service and active duty for training. The case will be returned to the RO for further development of these issues.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on hearing loss, tinnitus, and reopening the left knee claim before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's pes planus claim is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, cervical spine disability, left wrist sprain, left ankle disability, musculoskeletal strain (claimed as costochondritis Tietze's syndrome), otitis media, right ear, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to new evidence of ongoing symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss due to outdated examination reports. The Veteran will need updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant an initial compensable rating as it currently meets the criteria for a zero percent evaluation.,The Veteran's postoperative residuals of prostatectomy are rated at 20 percent due to urinary frequency issues. A higher rating is not warranted.

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