Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence meeting VA's definition of hearing loss. Service connection was granted for tinnitus, with the condition having onset during active service.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic suppurative otitis media, and tinnitus. The next step is to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and colon cancer. The issues of service connection for depression, removal of a cyst, sleep apnea, adult onset vitelliform macular dystrophy, and renal cell carcinoma are REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for tinnitus. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while tinnitus is not considered a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran was exposed to noise in service which likely caused his current disabilities.

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 Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU based on his combined disability rating of 80 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for hip replacement. The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hip arthritis, and bilateral foot arthritis are granted. The claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis and unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding whether hypertension is secondary to service-connected disabilities, specifically ischemic heart disease, PTSD, diabetes, hearing loss and tinnitus, or chronic migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no current disability found in either case, with the exception that the Board accepts the Veteran's assertions of noise exposure during service. For hearing loss, the evidence does not show a current disability. For tinnitus, the claim fails due to lack of nexus between service and onset.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a recurrent low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, heart disorders, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorders, headache disorder, right ear hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS (rhegulopathy), left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left ear hearing loss have all been denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic otitis externa, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active service.,The decision also noted that there was no current diagnosis of otitis externa at either entrance or separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral tinnitus, granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and denied service connection for left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome. The initial rating for lumbar strain was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current level of disability.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a back disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for anxiety is denied as there is no separate diagnosis from PTSD. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also denied because it did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ear condition, sinus condition, bilateral hearing loss, and an initial compensable evaluation for hypertension. The appeals are currently pending.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion due to unresolved issues regarding service connection.