Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, including considering potential noise exposure from his military service and any work environment at Fort Detrick.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss should be remanded due to incomplete STRs and lack of documentation regarding his periods of active and reserve service.

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 the Veteran's active service. The decision also notes that the Veteran's assertions of tinnitus beginning during his military service have been found credible.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD was granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a headache disorder were denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his time in service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing audiometric results from a February 2019 VA audiological evaluation. The rating for bilateral hearing loss needs to be reassessed with this information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that any current disabilities were not shown as chronic within presumptive periods.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of discharge from service and there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection for residuals of colon surgery was denied because the disorder first manifested many years after discharge from service, and there is no evidence linking the disorder to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran withdrew his requests for increased ratings in these cases.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board also remanded the issues of ratings for upper extremity diabetic neuropathy, lower extremity sciatic nerve peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity anterior crural peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and its connection to service. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, and a new VA examination must be conducted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to new and material evidence being received with respect to his hearing loss and/or ear disability, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disabilities (including PTSD), and recurrent chronic otitis media. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, a left collar bone disability, facial lacerations with scars, migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and a left elbow disability. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, dermatological disabilities of the hands, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to schedule a VA examination for service connection of right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's last known address must be notified and given 30 days notice.