Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records from 1970s, including any treatment records from Dr. S.J.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military service and is considered a current disability.,Bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for Meniere's disease, anxiety disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a shell fragment wound are dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn these claims.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted from April 7, 1998 to January 29, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ankle disability that was incurred in or caused by active service. The case is being remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus related to service exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of frostbite, bilateral hands has been reopened and is now considered. The Board finds that new evidence supports the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for PTSD has been granted based on credible reports of in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which are rated as a combined rating of at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and his tinnitus disability is not rated higher than the current 10% evaluation.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was rated at a noncompensable level prior to January 22, 2015. From that date, the Veteran is entitled to a 10% rating for her bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during his military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is pending, as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that these conditions are related to service.

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

The Veteran's hearing loss is related to service and has been granted. The remaining claims for increased ratings, TDIU, and automobile claim are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain clarification on the etiology of his current bilateral hearing loss disability, as there are conflicting opinions in the record regarding its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and a medical opinion regarding left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in March 2013. The RO assigned April 14, 2014 as the effective date after receiving a request to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to active duty service and therefore granted. The issue of tinnitus has been remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or tinnitus. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus found.