Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's wife provided supporting statements, but VA needs to obtain his service treatment records from Fort Brooks Hospital and San Juan VA Caribbean Hospital.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral refractive error of the eyes, residuals of hyphema of the right eye, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disorder (bronchitis), sinus disorder (allergic rhinitis), and dental disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 1, 2016 was denied. However, the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is now rated at 10 percent from March 1, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not result from his military service, as he had normal hearing at both entrance and separation. The gap between service discharge and medical evidence of hearing loss is noted to be over four decades.

The Veteran's eye condition, bilateral hearing loss, and infectious hepatitis have been denied as there is no evidence of additional disability caused by VA care or treatment.,VA has determined that the Veteran did not sustain an additional disability due to negligence or error on the part of VA in providing medical care.

The Board has granted service connection for sensorineural bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to August 1, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter was denied. The Board found that the disability ratings assigned were appropriate based on the severity of the Veteran’s hearing impairment as determined by audiometric testing.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus because the evidence did not establish a current disability or relate to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

Service connection for a bilateral elbow disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, eye disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, sinus disorder, cholesterol, and bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, blood disorder (claimed as blood clots), sleep disability, skin disability, head injury residuals, headaches, cardiovascular disability (claimed as atrial fibrillation with chest pain), right hip disability, and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted effective September 24, 2013. The Board is now considering whether a higher rating or earlier effective date can be assigned.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hypertension was denied, and his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no current disability present that meets the criteria of a VA compensable disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to service, including in-service exposure to loud noise.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with average pure tone thresholds consistently below the threshold for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing current disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and he is entitled to a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier date of receipt or a link to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, low back disorder, and right knee disorder are granted. The claim for tinnitus is also granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it regarding other issues.