Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to October 10, 2016 and remains noncompensable after that date. The Board finds the evidence does not support a compensable rating for any period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

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

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the appeal regarding Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, SMP, and SMC for aid and attendance remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current diagnosis of a disability that meets VA criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hand injury with degenerative changes and tinnitus, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to the hearing loss, finding no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and service. The Veteran's hearing was found to be normal at separation.

The Veteran's last examination for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was in November 2012, and the Board finds that a new VA examination is needed due to potential changes in his condition since then.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

Service connection is granted for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Veteran provided credible reports of stressors related to the fear of hostile military or terrorist activity, which a VA examiner conceded was sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD. A private medical provider also opined that there was a medical link between the Veteran's PTSD and his experience in the army.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss. The weight of evidence indicates that a medical nexus has not been established between current diagnosis and an in-service incurrence; and the criteria for statutory presumptions have not been met.,Tinnitus service connection is granted. The Veteran indicated that he began to manifest tinnitus due to military noise exposure, and tinnitus continued to manifest ever since.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and migraine headaches associated with multiple sclerosis.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a groin disability is granted. The Board finds that the evidence received since the last final denial relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, further development is required due to outstanding VA treatment records and additional examination is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral hip disability, shoulder and elbow disabilities, low back disability, neck disability with upper right extremity neuropathy, spine disability with joint degeneration, hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, staph infection, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea. The remand also includes a request to obtain Social Security Administration records and an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Tinnitus has been denied for an earlier effective date prior to June 25, 2012, and a rating in excess of 10 percent remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability (including arthritis), bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lower back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to noise, resulting in service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsening of his symptoms within one year prior to June 7, 2016, and thus no earlier effective date is warranted.