Hearing loss decisions — 2018

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, ischemic heart disease, and residuals of prostatic adenocarcinoma due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss are currently assigned separate noncompensable ratings. The Board has ordered a remand to schedule the Veteran for an appropriate VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected right ear hearing loss, and to consider whether the Veteran’s service-connected right and left ear hearing loss should be rated as one disability.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted as service connected, with no specific exposure basis provided and no rating assigned.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the appeal period, with an average puretone threshold of 48 decibels in the right ear and 39 decibels in the left ear. The Board found that his claim for a compensable rating did not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for clarification of the March 2017 private audiometric test results and obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's claims are now reopened, but further examination is needed to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted service connection. Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic fever is denied. The case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination regarding the heart disability, and an audiometric evaluation of the right ear.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability and therefore denied service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The appeal seeking service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis, to include as due to agent orange exposure, is dismissed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's syndrome are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The Board found no evidence to warrant an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, spine disability, and chronic headaches have been granted. However, the rating assigned is not specified, nor is the effective date provided.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began during his active service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of aggravation beyond natural progression.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including a VA examination report. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of this additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and its impact on his daily activities.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence.