Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has decided that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records from Port Charlotte Community-Based Outpatient Clinic and the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be remanded to allow for further consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as they are related to his in-service noise exposure. The claims for basal cell carcinoma and brain tumor have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure. The hearing loss issue remains pending and will be addressed at a future date.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted service connection. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board determined there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure leading to current disability within one year post-service, thus denying service connection on a direct basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's incisional hernia, surgically resolved with scar, was incurred during a period of active duty service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus require additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting a new VA examination. The case will be remanded to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected impaired sphincter control, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids. The Board grants service connection for depression as secondary to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and GERD. The claims will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disability in service and concluded that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no indication of noise exposure during service, and the Veteran did not have a significant threshold shift between enlistment and separation.

The Board has granted a TDIU from February 2011, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment at that time.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the right knee was denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable, while his right knee degenerative joint disease was initially rated as noncompensable but later increased to 10 percent effective September 23, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations, particularly regarding his left ear hearing loss, right hand index finger condition, right hand ring finger fracture, skin condition, and right ankle fracture.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis externa were denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent is assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by hearing acuity worse than Level IV in the right ear and worse than Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable (0%) disability rating. The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has not been able to obtain all service treatment records, especially those from the Veteran's active duty for training (ACDUTRA) period. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and back disability. This includes obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.