Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial noncompensable rating for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection, as well as remanded the issue of bilateral hearing loss service connection. The decision is based on the fact that no prior claim was received by VA before June 6, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran for further examination and opinion regarding his right hip, right ankle, and hearing loss disabilities. Specifically, they need to determine if these conditions are related to his service-connected right knee disability or if they were caused by noise exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye disability has resulted in visual acuity of 5/200 and his nonservice-connected right eye resulted in visual acuity of light perception only. A 100 percent rating for traumatic glaucoma and cataract of the left eye is granted from August 9, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, bone marrow cancer, and sleep apnea have all been denied as not related to service or otherwise established.,Service connection has not been granted for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for depression as secondary to service-connected residuals of circumcision is granted. The claim for residuals from a scorpion sting to the male reproductive organ is also granted, but only partially since it was previously denied. The claims for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as noncompensable from July 27, 2015. The Board found that the currently assigned noncompensable rating is appropriate throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development and lack of compliance with prior remand orders. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer (including scars as residuals), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, psoriasis and seborrhea (claimed as skin condition), peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to a lack of evidence regarding in-service exposure or medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to his military service, including noise exposure. The Board found the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and missing evidence. The issues of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, a foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and substance abuse disorder will be addressed again after additional examination and development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of BHL and tinnitus, which began during his active duty in Vietnam due to exposure to hazardous noise.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities during the appeal period.

The reduction of the 50% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss to 30% effective from August 1, 2016 was proper. The reduction of the 10% disability rating for groin disability to 0% effective from August 1, 2016 was not proper.

Your claims for service connection have been reopened and are being reviewed on the merits.,The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen your previously denied claims of low back pain, cervical radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate October 2016 VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service-connected epilepsy. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the compensation rating for his bilateral hearing loss, so the case is dismissed.