Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations. The Board also found no evidence of continuous symptoms since service separation or chronicity of disease from service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded as the VA examiner did not provide an opinion on their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated radiation dose estimates and hearing loss treatment records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being evaluated based on noise trauma exposure in service, while his hypogonadism claim requires consideration of his reported exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no medical evidence supporting a current diagnosis of hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the left upper and right upper extremities, as well as radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely caused his long-standing ringing in his ears. Service connection was denied for hearing loss of the left ear due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 17, 2012. However, beginning on April 17, 2012, his combined disability rating was 100 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of tinnitus is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder disability and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the record is not ready for appellate review due to incomplete information, and it is therefore REMANDED for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, are being reviewed due to lack of VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening his previously denied claims. The Board found that he failed to appear for VA examinations on two separate occasions without good cause.

The Board has reopened the claims for left shoulder/arm pain, liver mass, right ear hearing loss disability, back disability, shin splints, right knee disability, sleep apnea, GERD, and PTSD. However, service connection is not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further action on the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's normal hearing at separation does not necessarily indicate no in-service loss of hearing acuity, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Board has found that updated examinations are necessary to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and intractable headaches due to their long periods of time since last examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss is denied. The current noncompensable rating remains unchanged.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its related complications, as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's back disability and endometriosis are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability, breathing disability, memory loss disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) remain on appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, but the claim for a higher rating has been denied due to lack of valid audiometric results.,Prior to December 22, 2017, the Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).,Since December 22, 2017, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating has been denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss did not increase during his active duty service.