Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss. The case is REMANDED to the AOJ for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD due to outstanding treatment records and additional VA examination opinions being needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has not obtained all relevant VA treatment records, including audiograms from June 2014 to the present. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to this lack of documentation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tendonitis of the right foot/ankle and residuals of a fracture to the right ankle/foot, as well as his claim for bilateral hearing loss, were previously denied in February 1979. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities related to these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was also denied in February 1979. The Board concluded that there is no evidence linking the Veteran’s current diagnosis of tinnitus to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an insomnia disorder related to night terrors is granted. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, residuals of cyst removal, and chloracne due to procedural errors. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for diabetes mellitus type II with dyslipidemia remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, as he is capable of working in a sedentary or light duty position.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received, reopening the claims for service connection for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.,Service connection is granted for diabetes and peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, lumbar myositis (back condition), degenerative arthritis of the knees, tinnitus, left foot arthritis, right hip and left hip conditions, left ankle and right ankle conditions, a bilateral foot condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The issues on appeal are not related to service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sleeping disorder, tinnitus, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood have all been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his tinnitus or adjustment disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability for VA purposes and was related to service, specifically his exposure to noise on the flight line. The Board granted service connection based on the presumption of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate factual basis for a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is required to provide any outstanding medical records and undergo a new VA examination.

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

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. Additional medical opinions are needed due to incomplete or speculative findings in previous VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction are granted. The remaining issues have been remanded due to need for additional development.