Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for hiatal hernia was granted, and service connection for hypertension, PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, major depressive disorder, right little finger ankylosis, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied. The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for various conditions was also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for additional examination and opinion due to the need for a comprehensive assessment, including consideration of his service-connected otitis externa.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to military service.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, to include as due to in-service Agent Orange exposure is denied.,An effective date prior to February 3, 2016, for the assignment of a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim was received after this date.

This decision denies service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and MRSA infection. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss, headaches, PTSD, night sweats, sleep disorders, and psoriatic arthritis are remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety disorder).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show a relationship to service, with no current disability found for tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the condition and active duty. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as new VA treatment records have been added to the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a head injury, TBI with residual headaches, hearing loss, heart disability, elevated cholesterol, liver disability, and kidney disability is granted. However, the claims for service connection for these conditions are based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary relationship.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 30, 2017. After this date, the evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his military service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent for the period prior to April 21, 2016. The Court has remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's lumbago and chronic low back pain (posttraumatic) are rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a significant threshold shift in either ear during service, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for fatigue with sleep disturbance and bilateral hearing loss disability, but granted service connection for PTSD.,PTSD was found to be etiologically related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for acid reflux as secondary to obstructive sleep apnea is denied.,The Veteran's claim for headaches is granted, with the Board finding that there is at least equipoise evidence of continuity of symptomatology since service.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) is granted, as the Board finds his statements credible regarding in-service events and concludes that his current diagnosis of depression is related to these events.,The Veteran's claims for a left hand/wrist condition and bilateral foot condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's claim for a left ear hearing loss disability is remanded for an appropriate VA examination, including consideration of aggravation by service-connected right ear hearing loss and/or tinnitus.,The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disability is remanded for readjudication based on additional medical records.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the assigned non-compensable rating is denied as his hearing acuity does not warrant a higher evaluation.