Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss as they require clarification regarding his service dates and need additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is at least as likely as not a symptom associated with his diagnosed bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran on his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been withdrawn.,The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (low back disability), stomach disability, esophagus disability, and cervical spine disability are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a left total knee replacement is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for anxiety disorder prior to February 27, 2017, and in excess of 50 percent thereafter is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but the issues of service connection for a shoulder condition, residuals of a back injury, bilateral hearing loss, disability manifested by earaches, tinnitus, and headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and schedule VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is being remanded for low back and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right great toe fracture, bilateral hearing loss, and nummular eczema due to unclear evidence regarding the pre-service status of his right toe condition and the current severity of his hearing loss and eczema.

The Board has decided that service connection for tinnitus is denied, and the case of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be service-connected. The low back disorder is linked to an injury sustained during a period of active duty for special work in April 1993. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are believed to have developed during the Veteran's active service from May 1985 to June 1986.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability needs to be re-evaluated due to recent evaluations showing a worsening of his condition. A new VA audiological examination is required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,Regarding the psychiatric disability claim, the Board has remanded it due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military noise exposure.,Service connection is also granted for a psychiatric disorder including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied by the Board. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also pending and will be addressed in the remand portion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him incapable of maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus disability are granted. The recurring left wrist ganglion cyst is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 10 percent, and his tinnitus disability is also rated at 10 percent. His combined rating is 20 percent.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities as he has a combined rating of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The hearing loss claim requires a new VA audiological examination, while the neurofibroma disability claim needs clarification on whether it preexisted service and an opinion on its relationship with service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss.