Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show that it was incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. The initial 70% rating for PTSD has also been granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for unspecified depressive disorder, bilateral hip misalignment with pain, and application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 5, 2008 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.,Regarding the intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, the case is remanded as there may be additional functional loss due to flare-ups not addressed in the July 2012 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure. An additional VA examination is needed to address this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for loss of eye sight and right ear hearing loss due to incomplete development. The issues will be referred back to the RO for completion of requested development.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inconsistencies in the May 2017 VA audiology progress note and the July 2017 VA examination report. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder), and tinnitus due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and noting that his current hearing loss disability did not have its onset during active duty. The Board also found that the Veteran had not provided credible evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing loss disability and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person was denied as he did not have a factual need for such assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for anxiety disorder was denied as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 1, 2016 was denied. Since then, a rating in excess of 30 percent has also been denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims were reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including the claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and a TDIU prior to February 6, 2019 is granted due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new VA treatment records being added to the record, and a need for another VA audiological examination.