Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic motion sickness and remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability, service connection for chronic motion sickness, and evaluation of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and anxiety disorder due to incomplete records and lack of verification of military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for coronary artery disease. The case is remanded to determine the cause of hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) due to outstanding VA medical records and private medical records not being obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of military personnel records and medical records from California Adjutant General's Office. The Veteran needs to provide these records for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability claims are being remanded due to the need to locate missing records from 2002-2006 and for inadequate examination opinions.,The Veteran's back disability claim is being remanded because of incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding whether his condition was aggravated by service.,The Veteran's ankle disability claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia claim is being remanded due to incomplete development and a lack of an adequate opinion regarding the severity of his condition.,The effective date for service connection for fibromyalgia is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed on the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss so an additional medical opinion can be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal of a non-compensable rating for his hearing loss was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his claims of service connection for various conditions, including a psychiatric disorder, peripheral vascular disease, headaches, and bilateral lower extremity nerve disorder, all potentially related to exposure to petroleum products during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient examination reports. The claim for low back disorder remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The decision was based on the Veteran's reported noise exposure in Vietnam and his testimony of decreased hearing acuity since service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the VA examination of record is insufficient for adjudicative purposes and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had its onset during active service or within one year of separation from service, or otherwise resulted from active military service, to include as due to noise exposure in combat.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is remanded due to concerns about the accuracy of previous audiometric evaluations and his assertion that his hearing has worsened at times.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to hazardous noise, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and the Board finds that his statements about difficulty hearing in some situations do not warrant a higher rating.