Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for tinnitus. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of noise exposure during service and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. However, both claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no persuasive evidence that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records, specifically VA treatment records from September 2010 forward. The Veteran is advised to provide these records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. Additional development, including obtaining inpatient service treatment records and a VA examination, is required.

The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran's claims for back condition, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD remains pending as the stressor verification process is ongoing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was restored to a 20 percent rating effective from December 1, 2016. The Board found that the reduction of the 20 percent rating to 10 percent for the entire period from April 1, 2016, was not proper and granted restoration.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not develop due to noise exposure in service and is not otherwise related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for hypereosinophilic syndrome. The Board found no evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and a separate claim for service connection for bilateral otitis externa were denied. The effective date of the 30% rating for bilateral hearing loss was set at January 6, 2014.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's back disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing audiogram records and for clarification on in-service hearing loss.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, and a 100 percent initial evaluation is granted for the cerebrovascular accident prior to January 15, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10 percent rating effective October 5, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support an even higher rating or any compensable rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected due to acoustic trauma sustained in active service.,The Veteran's near continuous thirst is not considered a separate disability for compensation purposes and thus denied.,The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD with depression, mood disturbances, anger, and panic attacks and therefore not separately service-connected.,The Veteran's left arm disability remains in dispute and requires further examination and evidence.,The Veteran's sleep disability (specifically sleep apnea) is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology, including consideration of herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's prostate disability and left-hand skin disability are both remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiologies, including consideration of herbicide exposure during service.,reasoning_summary

The Board has reopened the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The prostate cancer claim is remanded as verification of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA periods is needed. The inextricably intertwined psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a need for an addendum opinion on coronary artery disease. The claims are not granted at this time.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was granted with a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease (IHD), transient ischemia attack (TIA), stroke, headaches, or PTSD. The claims for these conditions are denied.