Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records and for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities, pes planus, and Hepatitis C.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss case is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the pre-existing condition was aggravated by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, blindness, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted. The claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other two issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied. The RO has assigned the maximum schedular rating of 10% for each condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left and right knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, hip disabilities, ankle disabilities, sleep apnea, inguinal hernia, psychiatric disorders, and dyslipidemia. The appeals are pending due to insufficient evidence or need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as his condition may have worsened since the last examination in July 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is being remanded due to the failure of a VA examination. The examiner will need to determine if the current hearing impairment is related to his active duty service, including noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss, as new and material evidence was received. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have led to a grant of a 70% rating for PTSD, effective from May 31, 2016.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, and thus remands the case for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma is granted a rating of 60 percent, effective from April 17, 2015.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is service-connected and related to in-service noise exposure.,Major depressive disorder with anxious distress features is service-connected and related to active service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 9, 2003 for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claim was filed on October 9, 2003, when he reported having 'ringing' in his ears.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including urinary incontinence claimed as secondary to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional evidence and a medical advisory opinion are needed.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. Right ear hearing loss was first shown during active duty, but the Board requested an opinion on whether it was aggravated by that period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals to reopen claims for service connection for right eye blindness, left eye blindness, and bilateral hearing loss disability.