Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being required. The Veteran contends that these conditions are related to noise exposure during his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not result in the need for regular aid and attendance, thus SMC based on this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The Veteran's knee disabilities are related to his military service, while the hearing loss is presumed due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are not related to active military service. The case is being remanded for further evaluation of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and hepatitis C are granted as service-connected. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise for both conditions, granting service connection based on noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, but a new VA examination is needed due to the possibility of worsening since the last evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before the Board could issue a decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 20 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, allergy condition, asthma, lumbar strain and partial discectomy, bilateral hip condition, bilateral knee condition, sleep apnea/sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disability is denied. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is not established as there was no diagnosis of hearing loss sufficient for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ear hearing loss, as well as his claim for a 10% evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his hearing loss and its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there was no competent evidence linking the current disability to in-service noise exposure. The application to reopen this claim is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for steatohepatitis with cirrhosis secondary to type II diabetes mellitus is remanded due to a lack of an aggravation opinion.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for Meniere’s disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

Service connection is denied for sleep apnea and hypotension. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and headache disability.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to the need for an addendum opinion considering the Veteran's detailed reports of noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current disabilities related to the conditions claimed, except for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets VA's definition of hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a rash, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral hand arthritis, and bilateral eye condition. The claim for TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, and hypertension have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a right shoulder disability, an initial compensable evaluation for a right ankle disability, and entitlement to TDIU.