Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination that considers the impact of his hearing loss on his work capacity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including cardiac disability, shoulder and ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's military service and his current condition. The Board also found no aggravation of any pre-existing hearing loss during his active duty period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted, effective August 24, 2016. The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and right ear hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need to provide his complete service personnel and treatment records, including those from his period in the Florida Army National Guard.

The Veteran's sinusitis, rhinitis, migraine headaches, and residuals of a c-section procedure were not incurred in or related to her active service.,Hearing loss was also not shown during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee DJD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left inguinal hernia disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. Service connection was denied for Crohn's disease.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's left inguinal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the level of hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. For hypertension, the claim was denied due to lack of evidence establishing its onset or causation related to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been granted service connection, but the initial noncompensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia, claimed as a prostate condition, is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or herbicide exposure.,PTSD symptoms have not met criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (to include bipolar disorder, depression, and PTSD) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The appellant's service connection claim is based on direct evidence of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. An initial 30 percent rating, but no higher, is granted for PTSD with major depression prior to October 19, 2016. The case is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD from October 19, 2016.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal of SMC as it was granted in full with an effective date of June 13, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities began during service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Specifically, the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities, hearing loss, respiratory disability, and scars to his forehead and right arm are not considered to be due to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure to noise, and granted service connection for this condition.