Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to missing VA treatment records, as well as a need for further examination of his lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for reopening a previously denied left knee disability is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure causing current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence being added to the record after a Substantive Appeal was filed. The VA treatment records detailing the Veteran's treatment for her claimed conditions are relevant and must be reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected due to noise exposure during service and his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service connected, but remands for further development regarding his back pain and right ear hearing loss claims. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

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

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a respiratory disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The respiratory claim is based on direct evidence, while the hearing loss and tinnitus claims are based on continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability for VA benefits purposes and the Board finds that noise exposure during his active service caused his hearing loss. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an eye disability, a right ear hearing loss disability, and a respiratory disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any current disabilities related to his claimed conditions, as there was no evidence of chronicity or superimposed disease/injury during service.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for initial compensable ratings for bilateral dry eye disorder and tension headaches, service connection for various conditions, and a VA examination is required to address the etiology of hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of his right wrist disability and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions. The initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence showing a compensable level of impairment. The higher staged evaluations for PTSD are also being remanded due to new information that may affect the Veteran's employability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. Additional evidence will be considered as part of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder condition, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of medical examination records. The Veteran served in active duty from December 1981 to May 1982 and January 1986 to April 1990.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and anxiety disorder, as well as his claim for an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a current disability in any of these conditions.

Your claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the AOJ has already provided the requested benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating in excess of 20 percent for a left shoulder disability characterized as degenerative joint disease, acromioclavicular (AC) joint of the left shoulder are remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder residuals with scar, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gunshot wound residuals, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU based on these conditions.