Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for service connection for left knee and left foot disorders are remanded as the RO did not address these issues in its decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to conflicting VA opinions and lack of thorough review in previous examinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's current hearing loss was not shown during service or at separation, and there is no evidence of a chronic disease manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service discharge. The opinion concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is more consistent with natural aging than noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for PTSD with major depressive disorder and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board has reopened the claims for right ear hearing loss and malaria, but denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the absence of evidence showing a current disability. The claim for left ear hearing loss is remanded as VA examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to his military service. The Board has granted the claim for service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and that any potential noise exposure during service did not cause or aggravate his hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's abnormal acoustic reflexes and their functional effects on his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was established for PTSD based on a verified in-service stressor, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current hearing loss and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and melanoma are all granted as service connected. The decision also remands the issue of service connection for melanoma due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, persistent depressive disorder, and restless leg syndrome. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and lumbar strain with sciatica, have prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment since April 12, 2011. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective as of that date.

Service connection for hearing loss is granted. Service connection for sleep disturbance secondary to tinnitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.