Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination. The Veteran's hearing loss condition is still under review.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss and focal disc herniation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals to reopen service connection, increase the rating for his cervical spine disability, and change the effective date of a previous increased rating are dismissed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and chloracne. The issues are related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for dermatophytosis is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, loss of visual acuity due to use of night vision goggles, and bilateral hearing loss. The issues are being returned for further development.

Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and right ear tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to service.,The Veteran was found to have current diagnoses of right ear hearing loss and right ear tinnitus but no current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ischemic heart disease and outstanding VA treatment records. The claim for right ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's left ear pre-existing hearing loss did not increase during his military service and there is no evidence of right ear hearing loss due to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss and an unspecified anxiety disorder claimed as PTSD have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's BPH is granted staged ratings, with a 20% rating prior to May 23, 2018 and a 40% rating from that date. The appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and the rating for low back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a respiratory disorder (COPD and asthma), nerve damage of the feet, and hyperkeratoses of the feet. The claims are being returned due to incomplete VA treatment records and lack of audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, sinusitis, headache disorder, and respiratory disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional records from your National Guard service and private treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of lay evidence.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during service, and continuity of symptomatology was not established. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety disorder NOS and depressive disorder NOS. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus remain denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss. The VA examiner is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, was aggravated by service, or if any current hearing loss had its onset in service.