Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability of the right ear is granted service connection. The appeals for hypertension and erectile dysfunction are dismissed, and the appeal for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and anxiety) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to be related to his active duty service, and the claim for service connection has been granted.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether his hypertension is aggravated by PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, due to lack of new and material evidence. The appeals for multiple body traumas, low back disorder, neck disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and vertigo are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and Parkinson’s disease were withdrawn by the Veteran.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and residuals of a stroke have been dismissed as there is no evidence to support service connection.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated at 10 percent. The left shoulder disability and scars are being remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The increased rating claims for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and bursitis of the right shoulder are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions, including left shoulder tendonitis, lateral epicondylitis of the elbow, limited wrist motion due to elbow condition, post-operative thumb disability, glaucoma and aphakia of the eye, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Effective dates are established or remanded as appropriate.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Veteran's PTSD is granted for the period prior to February 18, 2015, but denied for a rating in excess of 70 percent after that date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as well as hypertension. The effective dates for service connection will be determined based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression was denied as his depression is a symptom of his service-connected PTSD and mood disorder.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral tinnitus was denied as the maximum schedular rating has been assigned.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis has been denied. The Board found that the available schedular evaluations adequately cover his disability, and there are no related factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them due to additional evidence that needs to be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, depression) due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected due to in-service noise exposure. The residuals of collapsed lungs are also granted as service connected based on the presumption of chronicity.