Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for limitation of flexion of the bilateral knees and back strain. The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus have not been established as related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for throat cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD) have been granted. The decision also addressed the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service.,There is no evidence of a left shoulder or foot disorder during service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain an examination and additional medical opinions regarding his lung disability, specifically whether it is related to service or not. His hearing loss disability will also be examined for the purpose of determining if it was incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and other conditions, make it impossible for him to obtain or maintain gainful employment consistent with his educational background and work history. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from November 29, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is granted. The claim for a gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as acid reflux and heartburn, is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to determine the current nature and extent of his hearing loss, as well as clarification on when he reported the onset of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's hearing loss rating from 30 percent to zero percent was proper, as evidenced by an improvement in his audiological test results.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be presumptively incurred in service due to exposure to acoustic trauma. The bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains on hold until further notice.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is considered to be related to his military service, as he experienced noise exposure during his time in the Army.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. However, it is unable to establish a direct link between his current conditions and military service due to lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and foot disorder have been reopened, but further development is needed to address the merits of these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) remains pending.

The Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a current left knee disability in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a noncompensable rating prior to March 22, 2014. From that date, the Veteran is now rated at 30 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development.