Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, and the Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claim for a TDIU rating prior to June 9, 2009, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and ischemic heart disease (IHD) due to incomplete evidence.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, while his claim for service connection for bipolar disorder is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not render him incapable of performing daily activities or require regular aid and attendance. The Board denied SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if her current conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current disability is due to in-service noise exposure and credible reports of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation. The Board finds the Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms to be inconsistent.,The Veteran's lower back and left hip disabilities are not considered to have been incurred in service due to a lack of continuity of symptomatology, as there is no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within one year after separation. The Board also finds that the Veteran did not seek treatment for his current right elbow disability until 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

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

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to May 16, 2015 and a rating in excess of ten percent thereafter for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to missing audiometric results.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) for the entire initial rating period from February 14, 2011. The evidence does not show that his hearing loss meets or approximates the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no evidence of exceptional or unusual factors associated with his disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of impaired hearing during or within one year after his service. The June 2015 VA examination concluded that the hearing loss is less likely than not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been linked to sleep apnea, which is granted. However, his claims for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remain denied.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss onset in or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service, including noise exposure therein.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of increased rating for bilateral onychomycosis and service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient information in the record regarding the Veteran's current treatment for his onychomycosis, and inadequate reasoning provided by the March 2013 VA examiner regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.