Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure during active duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted based on continuity of symptomatology during and after service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred in service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had improved and reduced his rating from 20% to noncompensable effective March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records. The claims for service connection are related to exposure to herbicides, but no such evidence has been provided.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the case is remanded for further examination regarding pes planus and right ankle disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for tinnitus and established secondary service connection based on his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The new evidence linked the tinnitus to his service-connected disability, and the Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

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

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence does not show a nexus to in-service noise exposure, and there is no other basis for granting service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, seek authorization for private treatment records, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for left knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis is granted. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating due to the presence of flare-ups during which he cannot use his knee at all.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back condition, bilateral hearing loss, skin condition (presumed due to Agent Orange exposure), and psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for clarification on whether the appellant's National Guard service was federal or state-controlled, and to determine if any additional development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service treatment records and a missing VA audiological examination. The Veteran is asked to provide any additional medical records, especially from her National Guard and Army Reserve service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type 2, residuals of trauma to right hand, back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, malaria, and residuals of laceration to base of right fifth finger due to insufficient evidence on record.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on in-service noise exposure as a basis for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus contributed to his cause of death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and multijoint arthritis due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but his claim for multijoint arthritis requires further examination and review.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.