Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new opinion regarding whether his bilateral hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his use of ibuprofen for treatment of service-connected spine disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated in service. The claim for service connection for upper/lower back disability and bilateral knee disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 50 percent to 10 percent, effective October 1, 2012, was proper and restoration of the 50 percent rating is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine and left hip disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at any point during or prior to the pendency of his claims. The Board also found that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims have been reopened, with service connection for both conditions established.,Service connection has also been granted for degenerative joint disease of the back due to his service-connected knee condition. The Veteran is not entitled to a sleep disorder.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 19, 2008 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied. The Board found that there was no prior claim to reopen or new evidence submitted before this date.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the threshold schedular requirements for a TDIU, and there is no evidence of unemployability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and the obtaining of outstanding records. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. The nerve and muscle disorder of the right upper extremity remains in dispute, as does the issue of a higher rating for his hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression with anxiety, vertigo, GERD, and hypertension. The decision also found that referral for extraschedular consideration of bilateral hearing loss was not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss was aggravated by active duty. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected lung disability is rated at 60 percent, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his other disabilities. The issue of an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, left wrist disability, right toe disability, and left breast disability. A VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lump in the head and diabetes mellitus type II has been dismissed as withdrawn.,Service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss disability have both been granted, with new evidence received since the March 2004 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected conditions are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes at any time during the pendency of his appeal. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA medical examination is inadequate and a new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.