Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete record development, including obtaining a pre-employment physical examination records and military personnel records. A new medical examination is also required.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current disability is a chronic disease and at least as likely as not manifested to a compensable degree during the applicable presumptive period, manifested during service, or produced continuity of symptomatology ever since service. The Veteran also had qualifying service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran's conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from service, and there was no evidence linking his current conditions to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements about symptoms since discharge.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened and is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD. The case is being sent back for a VA examination to determine if the sleep apnea is related to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions, and whether it is caused by medications used to treat other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, specifically his exposure during service and its impact on his current condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's reports of noise exposure are consistent with his service, and he currently has a hearing loss disability. However, the VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s hearing loss is not related to service due to normal hearing at enlistment and separation. The Board finds this opinion inadequate and orders a new examination.

The appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss and skin condition have been dismissed. The appeal of PTSD is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions began during service.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in his early twenties and have continued since. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking current hearing loss to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and the need for a new opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability (ankylosing spondylitis) and denied service connection for right knee condition. The claim of increased rating for cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is attributable to in-service noise exposure and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dysthymia has been reopened and granted. The appeals for the other conditions are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in October 2007 and October 2009, respectively. The effective date of the grant of service connection was February 12, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The Board has remanded to determine if TDIU should be granted prior to May 21, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. Service connection for hypertension is denied, but the claim to reopen a skin rash condition is granted. The issue of PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.