Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is being remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all his appeals regarding the service connection for various injuries and conditions. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings or entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case for further action consistent with the terms of a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD is being remanded, as well as his TDIU prior to September 13, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and obstructive sleep apnea due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, vertigo, and a right lower extremity disability due to potential new evidence of worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he received a temporary total evaluation for inpatient care. He was denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to in-service acoustic trauma. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment throughout the appeals period, resulting in a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing impairment warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a duty to assist error. A new medical opinion is needed to address whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right knee arthritis and left knee disability have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease with coronary bypass graft, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar strain, mild muscle weakness in multiple extremities, and embolic stroke residual, were granted effective from March 31, 2016.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable Diagnostic Code.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine DDD are granted service connection, but the linear scar is denied. The case for lumbar spine DDD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

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