Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Sleep apnea has also been granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA), Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA), and Active Duty Special Work (ACSW). The AOJ is instructed to obtain pay stubs, verify service dates, and schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for the VA to obtain treatment records from Hampton VAMC. The rating for his hearing loss is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is partially denied as the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and a right leg disability. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has restored a 10% disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, effective September 24, 2013. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as there has been no recent evaluation and he testified that his hearing loss had worsened since his last examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical evidence and incomplete development. The issues include service connection for various conditions, with some requiring additional examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back condition, hearing loss, sleep apnea, kidney condition, skin rash over the entire body, hypothyroidism, PTSD, and depressive disorder. The decision also includes a remand for TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues.

The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, and traumatic brain injury (with residuals of loss of sense of taste and smell) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,For hearing loss, there is no showing of a current disability within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for vertigo, acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to tinnitus), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to acquired psychiatric disorder). The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, but service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains unclear due to inconsistent test results. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and medical opinion.

The appeal of service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, left lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, right lower extremity peripheral vascular arterial and venous insufficiency, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, vision disorder, and bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the audiometric findings do not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations.