Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and assigned a 10% rating, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is now of such frequency to be considered 'recurrent' following his most recent period of active duty. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for neurological residuals of a right shoulder fragment wound from March 30, 2011, to March 31, 2013.,A separate 10 percent rating was granted for a Muscle Group IV injury associated with the right shoulder fragment wound from April 1, 2013. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for neurological residuals and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including a lack of verification of his National Guard service and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record. The VA is required to provide a medical examination and opinion that addresses all raised theories of entitlement, including secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability needs to be re-evaluated due to an increase in severity since the last examination. The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the current degree of impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for atopic dermatitis, bilateral hearing loss, and stomach disorder due to new evidence or lack of VA treatment records. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical records and undergo examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, specifically his exposure to noise during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, increased rating for anxiety, and earlier effective dates due to incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and determine if vertigo and headaches are related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to in-service combat-related acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with no evidence of worsening since the last examination in August 2009.,Prior to January 9, 2017, the Veteran's cervical spine scar and left hip scar were each rated as noncompensable. After January 9, 2017, both scars are rated as 10 percent disabling due to their painful nature.,The Veteran's left knee disability was initially granted a 10 percent rating from September 1, 2009 through February 2, 2010. After this period, the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating beyond 10 percent.,No new evidence of service connection or exposure basis was provided in this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current complaints of hearing loss.

The Board has determined that an adequate opinion is required to determine if the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder was a principal or contributory cause of death. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 remains denied as there is no legal basis for entitlement.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and the Board denied these claims.

The Board has determined that further medical evaluation and opinion are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including back disability, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory condition (COPD), and migraine headaches. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for intestinal disorder, basal cell carcinoma, right middle finger injury, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened. Service connection is granted for the right middle finger injury and irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral otitis media were evaluated. The cervical spine disorder was denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet criteria for a compensable rating. Bilateral otitis media received the maximum schedular rating. For lumbar spine disability prior to July 8, 2015, a 40% rating was granted; since then, no higher rating is warranted.