Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss, but denied for right ear hearing loss.,Service connection is also granted for hypertension and Bell's palsy.

The Veteran's Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is related to his military service and the claim for Bilateral Hearing Loss is remanded. Service connection is granted for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for squamous cell cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to potential etiological links to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's squamous cell cancer claim is being referred for a medical opinion, while his hearing loss and tinnitus claims are also being referred for an addendum opinion addressing the 15 decibel shift between induction and separation examinations.

The Board has denied all service connection claims and increased rating claims for various conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sliding hiatal hernia with associated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with noncardiac chest pain.

The Veteran's application to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Her claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome were also denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus remains September 6, 2013.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated at levels ranging from 20% to 30%, but not exceeding 40%. The Board denied any evaluation in excess of these ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to military service and if it is worsened by his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in May 2010 due to lack of current diagnosis and no established link with service. New evidence submitted since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied in May 2010 based on a finding that his tinnitus is not related to service. No new evidence received since then establishes a link between current tinnitus and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on an extraschedular basis, as well as whether secondary service connection is warranted for neurological or acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and remanded his service connection claim for neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level III in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions began during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to potential SSA records and a need for a new medical opinion regarding service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection, rating in excess of 50 percent for chronic headaches, and TDIU are all pending.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for recurrent bilateral tinnitus is denied. The Board has remanded the issue of an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of proper documentation and examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hand and foot conditions, as well as right ear hearing loss and a skin disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to incomplete or missing evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established.,Service connection for a bilateral hip disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or chronicity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted a 10 percent rating for hemorrhoids prior to September 14, 2016, with no higher rating thereafter.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.