Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder degenerative joint disease and left rotator cuff tendonitis due to new evidence indicating that the Veteran's conditions may now meet VA criteria for benefits. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine if his hearing loss meets the regulatory requirement of hearing loss, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, but his right ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of in-service manifestation or evidence of continuity of symptoms.

Service connection is denied for hearing loss and tinnitus, but granted for head injuries.,The Veteran's claim to reopen his anxiety/neurosis (claimed as depression) will be remanded due to the need to obtain medical records from Tripler Army Hospital in Hawaii and Fort Gordon Army hospital.

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 decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, particularly its impact on his daily activities and employment.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully evaluate the Veteran's claims, including for service connection of PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder, GERD, chloracne, and secondary conditions. The appeals are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 27, 2013, for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the earliest effective date that can be assigned is already the date of claim to reopen.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), and heart disability (claimed as congestive heart failure) due to insufficient medical evidence and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The VA determined that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service or exposure to noise therein.,Service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis were granted service connection, with the latter being secondary to his left knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings and lack of consideration of noise exposure in-service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear, finding that there was no causal link between his active service and his current condition. The evidence did not support a finding that he had any issues with his right ear hearing within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and renal cell carcinoma, finding no evidence of in-service injury or exposure that could be linked to the current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA must provide an addendum from a VA examiner addressing whether these conditions are related to active duty training or noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unclear opinions regarding aggravation of pre-existing conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU prior to February 19, 2016. The Board finds that his combined disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or chronic fatigue syndrome, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.,For the joint condition (claimed as Gulf War Illness) and muscle condition (claimed as due to Gulf War Illness), an addendum opinion is needed regarding whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, seizure disability (episodes), and PTSD are remanded for further development.