Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression secondary to other service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and lumbar spine disability have been granted. The skin disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, as it is related to his hearing loss disability. The issue of a compensable evaluation for hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral foot disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.,The Veteran's claim for an eye disorder remains pending due to the need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with an adequate VA examination and address his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the May 2013 VA examination report, which did not address in-service noise exposure and its potential contribution to late-onset hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development, specifically the need to locate a favorable medical opinion regarding his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset in service and continues to this day, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability and for updated findings regarding its functional effects.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss, and because the issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with the pending claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is determined to be due to acoustic trauma during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal disease associated with diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear sensorineural hearing loss is a result of acoustic trauma sustained during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensably disabling, and therefore he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, as well as consideration of extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b).

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the NOD dated November 13, 2013. As a result, the Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to acoustic trauma during Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) service. The initial disability rating for the right hand fracture is also granted at a 10% level.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus began in and has continued since service, thus meeting the criteria for service connection. The issue of hearing loss is remanded as there are questions regarding the pre-service status and the validity of the August 1967 audiogram.