Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims. The Board found that there is no link between any of the disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records, incomplete service personnel records, and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right knee disability, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye condition and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not related to her active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability of the left ear is granted service connection, while his right ear hearing loss and chloracne are denied. The case is remanded for further examination regarding chloracne and a PTSD rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, left ankle pain, and bilateral hearing loss due to a significant gap in medical records between service and VA treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, PTSD symptomatology, bilateral hearing loss disability, and physical disabilities make it impossible for him to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's STRs show a broken bone in his left leg during boot camp, but no specific mention of hearing issues or tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including EBV and mononucleosis with residuals, chronic fatigue syndrome, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, neck scar, Bell's palsy, GERD, chronic sinusitis, bilateral shoulder condition, left index finger injury, left index finger scar, and right ear hearing loss have been granted.,The Board found the preponderance of evidence supported the Veteran's claims for service connection based on his in-service diagnoses and continued symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a skin disorder (claimed as dermatitis), an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), residuals of pneumonia, and a back disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss disability, as defined by VA criteria. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are also on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made it impossible for him to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment since December 21, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing an informal claim prior to December 26, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and military service, including noise exposure. The Veteran's separation examination showed normal hearing thresholds.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by pure tone threshold averages and speech recognition scores that correspond to no more than Level 1 impairment in the left ear and Level 1 impairment in the right ear. Therefore, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, does not require insulin or regulation of activities as part of medical management. Thus, a rating higher than 20 percent is denied.

The claim to reopen service connection for type 1 diabetes has been denied. The increased compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent since December 15, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

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 military service. However, the issue of secondary service connection for stroke due to anxiety disorder remains unresolved and needs further examination.