Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran had a current disability and was diagnosed with this condition during service. The appeal regarding right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for consideration of whether the Veteran is entitled to a higher rating on an extraschedular basis due to social avoidance related to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood of causation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee pain and bilateral hearing loss claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active service. Service connection for depression was denied due to lack of a medical nexus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. However, there is no current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss or erectile dysfunction as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and whether new and material evidence has been received in order to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a spine condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media and Meniere's disease were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during his military service, and the Board found that they are not related to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his leukemia and hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and is granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran credible in his report of a decline in hearing loss post-service, but an addendum opinion is needed to address this issue. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of noise exposure or current disability. Service connection for gastrointestinal disabilities (including GERD) and acquired psychiatric disorders are also denied due to lack of medical nexus opinions. An addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's shoulder disabilities is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches due to lack of a present diagnosis for hearing loss and insufficient evidence linking his current conditions to service. The claim for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was not addressed as it is part of the remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability and its relationship to service. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional VA treatment records related to his hearing loss, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine if he has a current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability and whether it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not the result of excessive military noise exposure during his Army National Guard service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and obstructive sleep apnea are not related to his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, effectively preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment and grants a TDIU.