Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for left knee, right ankle, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities as secondary to service-connected conditions. As a result, the issues are dismissed.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied as not related to service, including noise exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board found that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to an in-service injury or event.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss as new evidence was submitted and a supplemental statement of the case is needed. A VA examination is also required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, and genital herpes due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The appeals pertaining to various conditions and service connection issues have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hearing loss has worsened since the last VA examination in September 2015. The Board finds a remand necessary to schedule him for an appropriate VA examination and to afford him a DRO hearing.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not start during or immediately after his military service and was not related to any in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for residuals of right inguinal hernia. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding sleep apnea, sinusitis, and tonsillectomy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial rating for right ear hearing loss due to incomplete review of his medical records, lack of a VA examination, and need for clarification on certain audiometric test results.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as it resulted from in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is granted as it began during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for tick bite and related blood infection is denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran has not provided any medical opinion connecting the current arthritis, hand, knee, neck, or psoriatic arthritis disabilities to a tick bite or strep infection during service.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at a 20% rating prior to May 27, 2016 and remains at that level after May 27, 2016. The Board found no basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing acuity warranted a 50% disability evaluation, and thus no higher rating is warranted. For his cyst on liver, the appeal is remanded due to insufficient information regarding exposure to nuclear reactors during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension and kidney disease secondary to service-connected lumbar strain, tinnitus, left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The decision also remanded his claim for service connection for headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and clarification from the private audiologist regarding the type of testing used in the April 2017 report. Additionally, all relevant medical records must be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus but denied service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability did not meet the threshold requirements for a VA disability rating at separation from service, and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for tinnitus, hearing loss, and PTSD have been denied.,Service connection requests for loss of sense of smell, taste, sinus condition, and erectile dysfunction (ED) have also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination. The VA examiner failed to consider relevant evidence of record, including conversion of audiometric readings from ASA units to ISO/ANSI units.