Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate reasons or bases in its decision and failure to ensure substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for a VA spine examination, and providing an additional VA examination of the knees, right wrist, and left hand.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have started during service and continue to this day, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to assess his service-connected PTSD. A supplemental medical opinion is also needed regarding the relationship between his hearing loss and tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA records and the need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims will be readjudicated after this is done.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues have been withdrawn. The Board has denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bipolar II disorder and dysthymic disorders.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are the result of noise exposure during his active duty, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and for further development of the claim, including scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, left hemiparesis due to stroke, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). The Board found no current disability for these conditions and insufficient evidence of a link between any diagnosed condition and active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the request of the appellant.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records, including audiometric data from recent evaluations. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA audiological evaluation to address his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.