Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for bilateral fibula fractures. The Veteran's claim of tinnitus is granted, and a remand is ordered to determine if his hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and hearing loss, requiring further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and auditory disabilities, as well as a claimed psychiatric disability. The appeals are due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims require additional medical opinions to properly adjudicate. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU due to insufficient evidence, including a poor audio recording of the Veteran's video conference hearing. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about his occupational history and education background.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation of his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine prior to April 12, 2016 was denied. The appeal is REMANDED as there are issues regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial evaluation of his degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine from April 12, 2016 is also REMANDED due to issues with service connection for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to herbicide agent exposure, but remanded the issues regarding bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in October 2009. The Board has decided to remand these issues due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, hearing loss, lumbar disc disease, scar, low back, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and PTSD. The issues of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for TBI and the propriety of reducing the disability rating for PTSD from 50% to 30% are also remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding bilateral hearing loss. The claims for tinnitus and low back condition were granted, but remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year after service and concluding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. A subsequent evaluation of 30 percent from May 11, 2018, was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for his heart disability. The claims for these conditions are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service, including noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issues of service connection for left knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and bilateral foot disorder with arthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, type II diabetes mellitus, right knee gout, and a right foot disability due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability under VA regulations, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 20 percent since September 9, 2013. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his functional impairment due to his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II was granted with a rating of 40 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for service connection for colon cancer and hypertension were reopened based on new evidence submitted since their previous denials. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus remain denied.