Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee; upper and lower back disability; hearing loss in the right ear; and tinnitus are all granted. The claim for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board dismissed all claims of service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current hearing disability and in-service noise exposure. The examiner concluded that the Veteran’s hearing loss is more likely due to aging rather than military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims for residuals of head injury, headaches, balance problems, and cognitive problems due to an in-service blow to the back of the head.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the current disabilities had their onset during service or were related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is remanded due to insufficient evidence of his functional and work-related capabilities during the period from January 27, 2009, to January 26, 2010. The AOJ must obtain missing records and provide a VA examiner with relevant information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus was granted. Claims for fibromyalgia, CFS, respiratory disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, lumbosacral strain, and TBI were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, back disability, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, shoulder and hip disabilities, right upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies, anxiety, depression, and PTSD were not shown as chronic in service or related to a service-connected disability. The Board found the Veteran's statements regarding these conditions being related to his military service to be speculative.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were first diagnosed 30 years after separation from service and are not considered to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current tinnitus had its onset during service and is related to his exposure to noise during that time. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's report and the need for additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing records and insufficient medical opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss but granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least in equipoise with being related to her military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The hypertension claim is remanded as it requires further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded his claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and consideration of new evidence.