Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and residuals of malaria and/or dengue fever due to incomplete records. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA treatment records, complete Samsun Clinic records from 2006 forward, and private medical records from Immediate Care Center and Valley Industrial and Family Medical.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, depressive disorder with pain disorder, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity conditions have been remanded. The effective dates for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder with pain disorder have also been denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for linear scars of the chest and abdomen are still pending.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not received, and the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since August 25, 2015. The Board found that the evidence supports a higher rating based on worsening of his hearing impairment.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for skin cancer on the lower lip, skin cancer on the right foot, and bilateral hearing loss as no substantive appeal was filed.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as his current level of impairment does not warrant a higher evaluation.,His IHD claim was also denied, as the evidence did not show it met the criteria for an increased rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea due to a lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran is also required to provide information about any medical providers who have treated his sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left wrist, right wrist, cervical spine, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The claims were either not appealed or the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and paranoid schizophrenia) due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran was not provided with a valid VA examination for his hearing loss claim, and he needs to be scheduled for another one. For his psychiatric disorder claim, a VA examination is needed to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the condition had its onset during service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the issue is remanded as a VA opinion considering a specific study by the Veteran's representative is needed before reaching a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, lumbar spine, hip, knee, ankle, shoulder and arm, elbow, wrist, and psychiatric conditions. The issues have been recharacterized to reflect the benefit sought by the Veteran on appeal.

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 Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted with an effective date prior to March 16, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, depressive disorder on secondary basis, and obstructive sleep apnea on secondary basis are granted. The claim for sinusitis is remanded as the Veteran has not been provided a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current sinus disability.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for breathing disability due to asbestos exposure, eye condition (claimed as bad eyes), dental condition (claimed as bad teeth), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues were withdrawn by the Veteran during a June 2018 videoconference hearing.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and ischemic heart disease need more information from his medical records to determine if he meets the criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Board remands the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bladder cancer due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced during active duty. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on several service-connected conditions have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the cases for further development and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of VA examinations and insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations for his claimed conditions.