Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and evaluations due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is granted, while his claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, is also granted. The issue of aggravation of bilateral pes planus is remanded.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability as there was no evidence showing a current disability, and the Veteran did not have a threshold shift in hearing within one year of discharge. The opinion from the VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his period of service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service and exposures to noise therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 21, 2016, for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of a claim before that date.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are granted service connection. Service connection for PTSD is denied due to lack of current diagnosis. Service connection for IHD as due to herbicide exposure is also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding noise exposure in service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for syphilis (latent). The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is not supported by evidence showing a current disability, while his claim for syphilis (latent) requires further development to verify exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and cancer of the tonsils, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for right ear and left ear hearing loss are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were generally granted. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, DJD of the lumbar spine (prior to July 14, 2016), PTSD from July 2, 2014 to April 10, 2018, chronic fatigue syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, and individual unemployability prior to April 10, 2018 were all granted. The Veteran's DJD of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent since July 14, 2016.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 40 percent since June 13, 2017. The Board found that the current rating adequately compensates for his service-connected hearing impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to February 14, 2013, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and heart palpitations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, left hand/ring finger, lower back, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The maximum schedular rating of 10% is assigned for tinnitus.

The appellant has withdrawn all appeals, including those for service connection and evaluations of the veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, but has remanded it to obtain clarification on the etiology of her current condition and whether it is aggravated by her service-connected tinnitus.