Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, with the presumption of exposure to noise in the Gulf War.,The Veteran's testicular cancer is presumed due to herbicide agent exposure during service.,PTSD was established based on an in-service stressor, and GERD is considered secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show that these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, but remanded the issues of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unclear audiometric test results.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the left and right feet, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, were denied. The decision found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the frostbite claims, and that there was no medical evidence linking current foot conditions to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The case will be reviewed with additional evidence, including new examination results.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and lung disease (asbestosis with COPD) are being remanded for further evaluation. The service connection for both conditions is not currently established, and the issue of exposure to aircraft fumes causing his lung condition needs clarification.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and hearing loss, with the latter issue being remanded to verify periods of active duty training.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and thus granting these claims.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for a left foot disorder, right foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The cases are remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to inadequate VA examination results. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA audiological examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and right ear hearing loss. The decision finds that the Veteran had a pre-existing hearing loss disability in both ears, but noise exposure during service aggravated these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss has been denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation of his lumbar spine disability, which currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to inconsistencies in the audiometric results. The issues of increased rating and TDIU are also being remanded as they may be impacted by the outcome of the hearing loss issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from July 10, 2017 onward. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, and bilateral shoulder disability due to a lack of examination and opinion regarding their etiology.