Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inappropriately conducted examinations, conflicting medical evidence, and the need for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to her active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back strain are being reviewed due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to outstanding records from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for ischemic heart disease and compensation rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 9, 2018 are also pending.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there is no medical opinion linking the condition to military noise exposure. The appellant's current hearing loss was found to be less likely caused by his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease (CAD), bilateral hearing loss, and scarring due to heart bypass surgery, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but has remanded the issues of right and left epicondylitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and he is awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities. The effective date for the increased ratings for hearing loss and heart disease are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability to the extent recognized by VA.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis was granted, but with a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's appeal regarding this issue remains on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and chronic symptoms of hearing loss meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cases for bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the evidence supports a finding that his current disability is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other conditions require regular aid and attendance, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are at least as likely as not related to his active service.,The Veteran's asbestosis is also granted, with the opinion leaning towards it being more likely than not due to post-service exposure but acknowledging possible in-service contribution.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that it is a symptom of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of malaria was denied as there is no evidence of current disability related to service.,Service connection for sinusitis was denied due to lack of a link between the condition and service, with the most probative evidence indicating it is not related to service.,The fungal condition of the bilateral feet was denied because there is no evidence linking it to service.,Bilateral hearing loss was denied as the Veteran did not notice any hearing impairment until after service, and the VA examiner found a less likely than not relationship between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.