Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of audiometric testing, as well as the need for an examination to determine if these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC. The issue of rating for recurrent lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is remanded due to evidence suggesting worsening.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle strain, back strain, and bilateral hearing loss disability as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a bowel disorder, and hemorrhoids due to incomplete development of records and failure to notify the Veteran of an upcoming VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits information.

The Board dismissed all appeals related to left ear hearing loss, left foot plantar fasciitis, right ear hearing loss, and the rating for right foot plantar fasciitis. The appeal regarding a higher rating for IVDS with DDD of the thoracolumbar spine is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to inconsistencies in audiometric testing and conflicting opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 17, 2014, for the 100 percent evaluation assigned for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to July 17, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent throughout the appeal period, as his audiometric test results do not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

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

The Board has determined that additional evaluations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and PTSD due to incomplete medical records and inconsistencies in the examinations provided.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of bilateral hearing loss and rash of the hands and feet are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The case of residuals of stroke is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. For bilateral hearing loss, the evidence did not show current disability as defined by VA regulations. For tinnitus, while there was noise exposure during service, the VA examiner found no causal relationship between in-service noise exposure and the current condition.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and headaches as the Veteran did not meet the current disability requirement. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that he had these conditions related to service, but there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a shin condition, right eye condition, right ear hearing loss, vertigo, or TBI. The claims for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for hearing loss in both ears, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted to support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the inadequacy of recent VA and private medical examinations. A new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his bilateral ear hearing loss.