Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer are also being addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions. The right knee disability is granted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not have its clinical onset during active service and is not related to any incident of service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of all issues.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current eye disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue of bilateral hearing loss was remanded due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was found to have manifested in levels of impairment that did not warrant a compensable rating prior to January 10, 2016 and warranted a 30 percent rating beginning on January 11, 2016.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the bilateral thumb disability claim and denied the claims for service connection for an eye disorder, a bilateral knee injury, vertigo with cerebellar gait (secondary to tinnitus), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical examination and evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss condition. The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable disability rating for this service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied a higher initial rating for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for his hearing loss is remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological examination.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active service and continue to this day. Service connection was denied for left ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking it to military noise exposure.

The Board has found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus was incurred during active service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, as the previous VA examiner's opinion was inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his current hearing loss conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms since service. The Veteran's PTSD was also found not to be directly related to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have had their onset during service, with the tinnitus being related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's anemia is rated at 30 percent, and her migraine headaches are granted on a secondary basis to her service-connected menorrhagia. The Veteran's hearing loss and diplopia were not addressed in the decision.