Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches or bilateral hearing loss, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder was remanded due to further development being required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and skin disorder.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of increased ratings for the gastric ulcer and right ring finger disability are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable schedular rating and an extra-schedular rating for his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear. The evidence does not support granting either of these ratings.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with his current benefits and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of a VA audiological examination report and adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure to noise, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction did not have onset during service or within one year of separation, and were not otherwise caused by his active service. The hearing loss was not shown to be due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues currently on appeal, including service connection claims.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issue of reopening his previously denied obstructive sleep apnea claim has been reopened, but the new evidence received did not meet the criteria to grant service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is due to noise exposure during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for various disabilities, including a right elbow disability, back disability, hand disorder, hearing loss, headaches, swollen glands, female problems and menstrual disorders, abdominal pain (residuals of hysterectomy), hypertension, left arm pain, right arm pain, left wrist pain, right hand pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, and bilateral foot disorder. The claims are being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, meeting the requirements for service connection under a direct theory.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to his request for a local hearing with a San Juan Regional Office Decision Review Officer (DRO). The case will be returned to the AOJ after scheduling the requested hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not incurred in or aggravated by his service-connected epididymitis, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The right ear hearing loss issue remains pending as further development is required.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to December 7, 2006, and in excess of 10 percent from December 7, 2006 to October 13, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent from October 14, 2017 for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his VA audiological examination records.