Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions due to the appellant's representative withdrawing the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered service-connected as it occurred during his military service and has been continuously experienced since then.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to a finding of in-service exposure and within one year of discharge. The right knee mild degenerative joint disease claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, impotency, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), all for accrued benefits purposes. The decision found no current disabilities or evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a brain tumor, seizures, and right ear hearing loss due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened, but the rating and effective date are not assigned as the matter is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues being inextricably intertwined, specifically the service connection for right ear hearing loss and the increased rating for left ear hearing loss. The SSOC for the right ear hearing loss is required.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology. Service connection is not granted as there is no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that his left ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year after separation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied it on the merits.,Service connection was not granted for tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, or right shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the increase in severity of his bilateral hearing loss did not occur within one year prior to November 7, 2016.,A higher rating for ischemic heart disease was granted with a 100% disability rating effective from February 1, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least equipoise that these conditions began during service. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for a neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to her military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with Level I hearing in both ears. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current hearing disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, shin splints, shoulder disorders, frostbite, psychiatric conditions, traumatic brain injury, headaches, wrist, hip, ankle, knee, elbow, little finger, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, skin disorder, and eye problems.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA audiological examination to determine the current severity of his condition.