Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to exposure to noise during active duty.

Tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection.,Diabetes mellitus has not required a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's right hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction are all found to be related to his service. However, the diabetes mellitus is not considered secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of low back injury with herniated nucleus pulposus L4-L5 and degenerative changes is dismissed. The Veteran's left shoulder condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for recurrent pneumonia is granted, while his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and current VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a significant shift in hearing thresholds on audiometric testing at enlistment and separation from service. The preponderance of the evidence failed to establish a link between the current hearing disability and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated medical evidence and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, particularly regarding his hearing loss and potential Vietnam exposure. The appeals are not related to service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and consideration, including service connection claims for various conditions and a TDIU rating. The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate response from the July 2012 VA examiner regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically related to any middle ear disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issue of left ear hearing loss due to a worsening condition since the last examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or a back disability for which service connection can be granted. The decision is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records are obtained.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its remand directives and will again remand for further development, including obtaining a combined effects medical opinion to address the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeals of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and no higher rating can be assigned.,The Veteran's back scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as they are not painful or unstable.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service, specifically acoustic trauma. The Veteran is also required to undergo new VA examinations.