Hearing loss decisions — 2018

Service connection granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to active service.,Bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis within one year after service or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for multiple myeloma due to lack of evidence of a current disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and initial compensable rating for residuals of bladder cancer are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for reopening of the tinnitus was granted but the service connection itself was denied.

The Board vacated its previous decisions on several issues, including service connection for allergies and diabetes mellitus, increased ratings for tinnitus and alopecia areata, and earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for alopecia areata and tinnitus. The decision also remanded claims for hearing loss and COPD.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, finding that it is caused by his service-connected Meniere's disease.

The Board previously denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has ordered a remand due to inadequate reasons and bases in the decision. The matter is now being returned to the Board for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection. The hearing loss claim is denied as there is no indication of a disability during service or after, and the low back condition claim requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service. The VA will need to provide new examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient audiometric evidence and other issues related to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for left knee disability, left eye loss of vision, bilateral hearing loss disability, sinusitis and rhinitis, and hives in January 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus for further examination and opinion as there is insufficient evidence regarding in-service noise exposure and its relation to current conditions.

The Veteran's representative filed for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss on July 8, 2016. The Board found that the claim was submitted earlier and granted a 30 percent rating effective from July 8, 2016.

The Veteran's high cholesterol, right elbow disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral hearing loss are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection.,For the low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), the Board has found that additional development is needed due to conflicting evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder with anxiety and sleep impairment is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the most probative evidence established that the original claim was filed on March 24, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease (CAD/IHD), erectile dysfunction as secondary to CAD/IHD, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for COPD. Bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service, while COPD is not related to any injury or disease during service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are found to be of sufficient severity to require the need for assistance with his activities of daily living. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions alone meet the criteria for SMC based on the regular need for aid and attendance.

The claim for bilateral hearing loss is not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for diabetes mellitus, including as due to Agent Orange exposure, is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection was not granted for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, or an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted as the evidence is in equipoise regarding its etiology.