Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the Board finding that both conditions are due to noise exposure during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, vertigo (Meniere’s syndrome), and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD and anxiety disorder) due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran was exposed to gunfire during service but no VA examination or medical records were provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability, has been granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete or incorrect information in the previous VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service.,The Board also found that hypertension was not permanently aggravated by type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disorder due to new evidence submitted. The rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. The hearing loss is not compensable since May 12, 2012. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the left shoulder condition and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his mood disorder and right knee disability. The issues include service connection requests and rating increases.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the issues of left ear and right ear hearing loss are still pending as they were remanded by the AOJ.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are granted. The claim for COPD is remanded as the VA has not provided an examination to determine its cause.

The Board has granted the request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied the request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current hearing acuity did not warrant a rating greater than 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right ankle disability and right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability in either condition and that any preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis, back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were denied service connection as they did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or are otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's brain tumor with loss of balance was remanded for further evaluation due to potential exposure to asbestos during his service.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for a higher rating for low back syndrome and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, as well as the initial rating for depressive disorder. Additionally, service connection for diabetes is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are being returned due to inadequate examination reports based on incomplete medical history.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his time in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing has worsened since his last examination, and another evaluation is needed to determine the appropriate rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.,For lumbar degenerative joint disease with strain, the Veteran's claim has been remanded as his disability rating may need to be increased.