Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred during a qualifying period of active duty, National Guard ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or related to military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, with no further increase in rating possible.,The Veteran's right hand strain has not met the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Veteran's color blindness and eye disorder are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee chondromalacia, left knee chondromalacia, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and eczema due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's discharge was not due to willful misconduct, and thus his period of service is honorable. The claims for service connection are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to continuous symptoms since service separation, meeting the requirements for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of hearing loss, as the current evidence does not meet the criteria for service connection due to inadequate reasoning in the previous VA examiner's report.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded and will be reviewed again.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for an eye disability is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim as the Veteran has been diagnosed with glaucoma and cataracts, which are related to Agent Orange exposure.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for liver disease is denied. The Board finds no new and material evidence received since the December 2010 rating decision that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the underlying claim of entitlement to service connection for liver disease.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for skin problems and sexual problems are remanded as VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service, specifically Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 50%.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability, leading to its dismissal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of whether the reduction in his left knee disability evaluation was proper.

The Board denied referral for extraschedular consideration of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that his symptoms are adequately contemplated by the rating criteria and do not cause marked interference with employment or other related factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with levels I in both ears at its worst. The Board found no evidence of an exceptional pattern of hearing impairment and denied a compensable rating.

Service connection for a back disability is granted.,Service connection for athlete’s foot is granted.,Service connection for a left eye scar is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.,Service connection for short-term memory loss is granted.,Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service noise exposure are considered, but a new VA examination is needed to address these claims.