Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected disability for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus. The evidence shows no in-service hearing loss, and current audiometric testing is within normal limits.

The Veteran's claim of increased ratings for migraine headaches has been granted. His claims for service connection for Crohn's disease, a back disability, right knee and left knee disabilities, dry eye syndrome with myopic astigmatism, and hearing loss are all denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including a new VA examination for his service-connected IVDS and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeal will be REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on tinnitus, hearing loss, and coronary artery disease was withdrawn. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with dysthymic disorder effective from May 6, 2011, the date of his claim. The TDIU claim was also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active military service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased evaluation for tinnitus was denied as there are no factors warranting extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a right leg condition. The TDIU claim will also be deferred until the remanded issues are resolved.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also finds that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for this condition as it was incurred in active service.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder) and denied the remaining issues. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims regarding entitlement to a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for further development, including new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes. The claims of service connection for cervical spine and right shoulder disabilities are denied as there is no evidence to support the presence of these conditions during or after active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board also found that there was at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and right knee osteoarthritis are related to his military service, but did not make a determination on whether these conditions were aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service. The Veteran's conditions were found not to be related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, with the medical opinions supporting this finding. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to his active service. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination during which he can provide a full history of his symptoms.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30% since August 1, 2017. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating for his left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are remanded for further development.