Hearing loss decisions — 2018

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various upper and lower extremity disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The VA will need to schedule updated examinations that take into account the Veteran’s STRs.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of 70 percent for panic disorder without agoraphobia was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100 percent rating. Service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was also denied due to lack of current evidence meeting VA standards.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. However, the hearing loss claim remains denied and the case is remanded to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's Camp Lejeune exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her in-service noise exposure. The decision is based on presumptive service connection due to chronic symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and did not reopen his claim for service connection for headaches.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during service or as a result of post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his left shoulder disorder and bilateral hearing loss were not found to meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and there is no evidence that the gastric adenocarcinoma had its onset in service. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, delusional disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and various other conditions are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected because it began during his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, enteropathy, polyuria, diabetes mellitus type II, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been dismissed. The Board has also dismissed his appeal for a TDIU due to the assignment of a 100% schedular rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's death is not considered service-connected, and the Board has ordered additional development to address the cause of death. The issue of service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disease, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent effective November 21, 2013. He is seeking an earlier effective date for this rating.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted petitions to reopen service connection claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left and right wrists, as well as a claim for sleep apnea syndrome secondary to migraine headaches. The claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability is remanded.