Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is not reopened, while his claim for bilateral tinnitus requires an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his non-psychiatric service-connected disabilities. Other claims are also being considered.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are presumed to have occurred during active duty due to in-service noise exposure. The continuity of symptomatology since service is also established.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or any other compensable basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations and because of an earlier effective date claim. The claims will be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right ear hearing loss as they require further examination and development.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability but granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran did not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes, while he had left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for left foot, right foot, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, including in-service noise exposure. The evidence does not show that he had a hearing disability during service or within one year of separation from service.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for OSA is denied.,Service connection for headaches is denied.,The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent and the reduction from 100 percent to 20 percent was proper.,An effective date prior to November 9, 2015, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to military noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The hearing loss, shoulder, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities may be related to service, but further examination is needed to determine this. Headaches and carpal tunnel syndromes require opinion regarding their relationship to service or other conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied in October 2003 and is now being reopened, but new evidence does not support the claim.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus has been denied as there is no evidence linking it to military service.

The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not establish a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia has been denied as it does not constitute a disability for VA benefits purposes.,New and material evidence having been received, the claims for hypertension and alcoholism have both been reopened. Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (depression and/or mood disorder), migraine headaches, and sleep apnea on secondary basis to service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's joint pain, coronary artery disease, diabetes, eye disorder, glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory disorder (asthma), liver disorder, kidney disorder, erectile dysfunction, residuals of TBI, restless leg syndrome, GERD, and other issues have been remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and hearing loss/tinnitus. The Veteran needs a VA examination for these issues.