Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service, and continuity of symptomatology could not be established.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for back, bilateral leg, and bilateral knee disorders are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The issues have not been decided on the merits.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for left elbow epicondylitis and ulnar nerve palsy is denied due to lack of diagnosed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims of service connection for residual injury to the face with dental trauma and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, affective disorder, and adjustment disorder) are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disability, bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and gout. The decision also granted a 10% rating for a fractured fourth metacarpal of the right hand.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has worsened, and he is having difficulty at work and in social settings. The Board has ordered a more current VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss was reopened, and the claim is granted. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not been manifested by hearing worse than Level I in either ear, and the disability rating for his condition remains at 0 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate opinion in the January 2017 VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and major depressive disorder (MDD), but granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of service connection for sleep apnea, PTSD, and anxiety disorder are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has not been shown to be worse than Level II in either ear, resulting in a 0 percent rating. The Board found no evidence of worsening since the last examination and denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. For emphysema and COPD, service connection is remanded due to lack of opinion on Agent Orange exposure. Service connection for gastrointestinal disorder is also remanded as there was no opinion on whether it is related to Agent Orange or aggravated by a service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded VA examinations to determine whether he has preexisting hearing loss and tinnitus that were aggravated during service, or if they are related to his MOS (sirens, road noises, and weapons noises). For carpal tunnel syndrome, the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine its onset in service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disorder and an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding no current diagnosis of a sleep disorder and that the evidence did not support a grant of a higher rating for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, CFS, migraines, sleep apnea, and low back disability are all granted. Service connection for PTSD is granted but with a remand for an initial rating determination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PAD, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, is granted.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the evidence shows it began during service and persists.,Service connection for a left wrist condition is denied.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tension headaches is denied.,Service connection for left side sciatic nerve damage is denied.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.