Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a rating increase of 100 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence that his condition worsened prior to December 10, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, ischemic heart disease, stroke residuals, bilateral eye condition, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and renal glycosuria due to inadequate examinations and missing test results.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The issues of bilateral hearing loss disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence showing a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective March 18, 2010. The decision is binding only with respect to the specific matter decided.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication. The Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss, PTSD service connection, and back condition are all pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his spouse being included as a dependent, finding that the first notice of marriage was received on September 29, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, bladder disorder, and back disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claims for increased rating for traumatic brain injury residuals, service connection for right foot sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 9, 2017 and a rating in excess of 50 percent since that date.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability due to disease or injury incurred in service.,The Board also denied service connection for frequent urination, concluding there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service event.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and active military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on evidence showing in-service acoustic trauma, which caused current right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service despite negative VA opinions. The decision affords the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including IBS, ulcer condition, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, tinnitus, insomnia, left ankle disability (claimed as memory loss, tremors and neurological disease), and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the submission of private treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is presumed credible regarding his continuity of symptoms since service, but a new VA examination is needed to determine if his current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence received after the February 2019 statement of the case. The claims will be reviewed by the AOJ for any additional information and then readjudicated.