Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient private treatment records and a need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed, as well as his claims for depression and fibromyalgia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had significant in-service noise exposure, which likely resulted in acoustic trauma, leading to current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and umbilical hernia have been reopened. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions. Other issues are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for defective bilateral hearing was reopened. Service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure is granted. The initial, noncompensable rating for deviated septum prior to May 1, 2015 is granted. A rating greater than 10 percent for deviated septum from May 1, 2015 is denied. Service connection for sleep apnea and a sleep disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, a pulmonary disability related to asbestos exposure, and PTSD have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a left shoulder disability (psoriatic arthritis). The Veteran's claim for COPD with asbestosis has been reopened due to new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headache disorder are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is denied for the Veteran's claimed right hip disorder, right hand disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and prostate disorder.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss resulted in Level I and Level II audiometric thresholds throughout the period on appeal, which do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis. The TDIU claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, were denied service connection. The Board found that the conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree in service or within the applicable presumptive period.,There is no evidence of arthritis in the knees during service, and continuity of symptomatology was not established.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development as requested by the Veteran, including obtaining private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's case was remanded due to his failure to appear for a VA examination. The Board will provide another opportunity for the Veteran to be examined and assess his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a relation between his current condition and active service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal of his right ear hearing loss disability rating is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for ankylosis and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,Service connection for periodontal disease (for compensation purposes) is denied as it cannot be considered a compensable disability.