Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, but only to reopen the claims. The claim for PTSD has not been reopened.,The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus had onset in active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and the issues of service connection for a back disability, left leg disability, hypertension, GERD, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to incomplete evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated, but it did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and hypertension claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, but the case is remanded for a VA audiologist to address whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection, while his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis, respiratory disorder, sleep disturbances, GERD, headaches, and testicular pain are denied. The decision also includes remand items.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active duty service due to acoustic trauma. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or its onset within one year of discharge.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claim for an increased rating of bilateral hearing loss, and the Board dismissed it as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right ankle strain, and bilateral pes planus due to new evidence. The service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the Board resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability are rated at 50% each, resulting in a combined rating of 100%. The Board has granted TDIU based on the severity of these disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to increased ratings for his left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence since the April 2015 SOC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The appeal for a compensable initial evaluation for hemorrhoids is dismissed. The appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 20 percent for surgical incision of the right heel from September 23, 2009, entitlement to a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a neck disability are all REMANDED.

The Board has remanded several issues due to the need for additional development and examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 26, 2016 and granted a 30 percent rating since then. The Veteran's hearing loss was denied a compensable rating prior to January 18, 2010 and granted a 20 percent rating since that date.,The Board found the VA examination for bilateral plantar fasciitis inadequate due to lack of discussion on functional effects.