Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran is seeking a higher initial disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, which he contends has increased in severity since the last VA examination. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to lack of recent audiological testing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but denied for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's notice of disagreement with the May 2013 rating decision was timely filed, and his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a balance disorder are remanded for issuance of an SOC.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical records, including those from his National Guard service. A new VA examination is required to determine if any current hearing loss or tinnitus are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The decision found that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to mustard gas or a nexus between current hearing loss and service. For PTSD, the Board noted that symptoms were minimal prior to February 9, 2007.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. Service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to 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 at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on credible lay evidence of symptoms and medical opinions supporting a link between service and these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest within one year of discharge from service and there was no evidence linking his conditions to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as his claims of exposure to chemicals during service. The appeals are also remanded for obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for her service-connected lumbar strain with mild left L5-S1 foraminal narrowing and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are being remanded to allow for additional examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of hearing loss during service or its relation to any in-service noise exposure. The Veteran needs a new VA audiological evaluation.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case of service connection for depression/anxiety is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss of the left ear, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and is less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral recurrent tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active duty. However, it denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and diabetic neuropathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient examination findings.