Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, and migraine headaches. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection granted for right wrist chronic radicular strain, depression and anxiety, and left upper extremity radiculopathy. Service connection denied for right shoulder impingement syndrome and right upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to inadequate etiology opinions in the VA examinations. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being evaluated, along with his reported in-service exposures.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's assertions regarding his in-service noise exposure and its relation to his right ear hearing loss. The claim will be reviewed again with a medical opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with audiometric testing showing no higher than Level I in each ear. The appeal for a compensable rating is denied.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that no basis existed to award such a date based on the evidence of record.

The decision restores service connection for bilateral hearing loss and grants increased ratings for left elbow scar, left knee instability, and remands the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has not been established for a left foot disability, vision disorder, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, right foot disability, upper and lower extremity disabilities, respiratory disorders, sleep disorder, or psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as it is related to his in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of increased rating for PTSD and service connection for right ear hearing loss due to new evidence received since the last decision. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, but a new VA medical opinion is needed to address whether his PTSD and hearing loss contributed to his cause of death.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's right central facial palsy, aphasia, and right lower extremity sciatic nerve disability are not rated higher than their current levels.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for left foot disability is denied as there was no prior claim filed.,Service connection for vision disorder, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, right foot disability, upper and lower extremity disabilities, respiratory disability, left shoulder disability, neck disability, back disability, sleep disorder, and erectile dysfunction are all denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral flat foot, bilateral hearing loss disability, vertigo, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the hernia and tinnitus claims due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination and the need for further evidence.