Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted. The issues of service connection for memory loss, sleep problems, night sweats (Gulf War syndrome), and headaches are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in February 2014. The new evidence received since then does not provide a link between these conditions and active service, so the claims are still denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II, as well as his claims for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, bladder condition, and psychiatric disorder. The appeals are remanded for further development on these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, and his hypertension is rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's PTSD, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the knees, and tinnitus are all currently rated appropriately. The appeal is remanded for further development on issues related to service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty, with continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of recent VA treatment records, and because a new examination is needed to determine if current hearing loss disabilities are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether a Maryland CNC test was used for speech recognition in the July 2016 audiological examination. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization to obtain this information and the RO will determine if further medical development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss is granted, with the case being remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left and right hand disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, as the evidence did not establish a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder (secondary to posttraumatic arthritis of the right knee), hypertension, cepahlgia, cervicothoracic spine disorder, thoracic spine disorder (low back condition), bilateral hip condition, and left sciatic radicular pain have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease/Barrett’s Syndrome, and back condition are granted as service-connected due to in-service combat noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU is granted.

An initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis and left ear hearing loss has been denied.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, Meniere's syndrome, and aural fullness is granted. The Board found that the new evidence presented raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 60 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is denied.,Service connection for Meniere’s disease is remanded due to possible secondary nature of symptoms related to his hearing disability.,TDIU is granted as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, bilateral tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right shoulder scar, were found to be of such nature and severity as to preclude his participation in substantially gainful employment prior to May 12, 2016. TDIU is granted effective June 1, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, prostate cancer as secondary to herbicide-agent exposure, and PTSD have been granted. The restoration of a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD effective February 1, 2016 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendinitis, vision condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.