Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD) is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and right knee cap disability are denied as not service connected.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, left groin disability, and right groin disability are denied as not service connected.,The Veteran's headache disability is denied as not service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disability due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for right ear hearing loss, residuals of TBI, and chest pain was denied. The Board found new and material evidence for the TBI claim.,Sleep apnea, left elbow disability, left shoulder bursitis, cervical spine disability, left hip disability, right pubic tendonitis, left ankle disability, right ankle sprain, left eye injury, stomach pain, kidney stones, service-connected cyst on the right side of the face, numbness in left hand and fingers (carpal tunnel syndrome), leg pain (left and right), and uncontrollable twitching and pain were all remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection for joint pain through ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulder and back due to cold weather exposure, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The decision is mixed as it grants one issue and denies another.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but remanded the right ear hearing loss claim due to new evidence. The decision on right ear hearing loss is pending.

The Board has granted reopening of the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a sleep disability as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin rash as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's NODs were timely and have identified several issues for remand, including service connection claims and reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, nerve disability of the bilateral upper extremities, and erectile dysfunction. The disabilities are all related to pre-existing conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims will be remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for lower extremity neuropathy and right upper extremity idiopathic neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a 50-50 balance of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including peripheral vestibular disorders (vertigo), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, rhinitis, and otitis were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities that meet the criteria for a disability rating higher than 0 percent for any condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but not for bilateral hearing loss or PTSD with major depressive disorder.,An effective date prior to September 25, 2007 for service connection of PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.