Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal of the issue for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is dismissed. The claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened due to new and material evidence being submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, sleep disorder, and pancreatitis are being reviewed.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the claims of diffuse arthritis (other than right shoulder) and gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss on an aggravation basis and for left ear hearing loss, both of which are related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and left hand and elbow numbness secondary to ulnar neuropathy. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's annual VA clothing allowance for the year 2014 due to use of a motorized wheelchair (a Permobil Power Wheelchair) is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his wheelchair tends to wear or tear his clothing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, numbness of the arms claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome, and a dental condition have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left hand injury with embedded shell fragment, and left hip disability. The cases are being remanded to obtain updated treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a psychiatric examination using the DSM-5 criteria, and determine if sleep apnea is related to his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is remanded to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides during layovers in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and MDD). The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain new examinations and treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service. The decision resolves all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports.,The Veteran's heart condition, including PVCs, is being remanded as the VA examination report did not address his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, migraines as secondary to tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to tinnitus due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence of record is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s tinnitus had its onset during his active service, and thus grants the claim. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the April 2013 VA examiner.

The Veteran's hearing loss claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, while the hearing loss is not.

The reduction in the rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss from 50 percent to 0 percent, effective April 1, 2012, was proper.