Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss. The decision on sleep apnea was final, as it had been previously denied in 2004 with no new material evidence submitted to reopen the claim. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that the condition is attributable to his active military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, submandibular gland carcinoma, and cerebrovascular accident. The case is REMANDED to obtain updated VA treatment records, SSA records, and a VA examination to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA audiology examination to determine the severity of his service-connected hearing loss disability. Additionally, a medical opinion on the etiology between the Veteran's small bowel carcinoid and service-connected duodenal ulcer will be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, clarifying the audiologist's qualifications, conducting a new audiological examination, and securing updated audiogram results.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and his prostate cancer residuals are rated at the maximum allowable under VA rating criteria. The reduction in rating for prostate cancer was proper.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his bilateral hearing loss and service connection for nuclear sclerosis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of more severe hearing loss than assessed by VA examiners, and there was no positive nexus opinion linking the Veteran's nuclear sclerosis to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and traumatic brain injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service and concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are needed due to inaccuracies in the previous VA opinion, as well as the need for records from a private audiologist.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants no compensable rating. The decision is based on the evidence showing current disabilities consistent with in-service injuries, but without clear medical nexus to those events.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not reached the level for which a compensable rating is warranted under VA's disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, with one VA examiner opining that they were caused at least in part by exposure to artillery noise during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including noise exposure from aircraft. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the November 2016 VA audiology examination and etiological opinions, requiring an additional VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, granting service connection for both conditions.