Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and high blood pressure are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA treatment records that need to be obtained and reviewed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a skin disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and right eye disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the highest level of hearing acuity being Level II in both ears. The Board found that this did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% for the period from December 5, 2012 to January 28, 2013, and from April 1, 2013 forward. The initial rating of 10 percent for chronic lumbar strain is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), right shoulder disability, low back disability, and cervical spine disability. The remand requires additional examinations to address functional impairment and provide opinions on whether these disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting hearing condition did not worsen during service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and tinnitus have been granted. The rating for PTSD has been increased to 10 percent. A TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show an increase in disability during service or a link to active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to an in-service event, injury or disease.,Service connection for bilateral cataracts was also denied because the condition did not have its onset during his active service, is not otherwise related to his active service, nor was it proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss due to continuous symptoms since service and the presence of in-service acoustic trauma exposure, meeting the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current state of his service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand twelve service connection claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents. The remaining fourteen issues were previously denied in a November 2014 rating decision and require issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disability has been reopened. The rating for left knee limitation of flexion is granted at 10 percent since August 11, 2016. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for right knee instability since the same date.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for right ear hearing loss, left hand disability, and right hand disability have been granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the appellant's symptoms began in service and have persisted since then. The evidence shows a continuity of symptomatology from his military service to present day.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence and the need for a VA examination.

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

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder, lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.