Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in him being housebound or needing regular aid and attendance, independent of his nonservice-connected conditions.

The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss, including a new VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service connection claims and rating determinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. The neck condition issue is also remanded. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss evaluation is being remanded due to missing audiogram results.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service due to exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and whether it manifested within one year of his service discharge.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and chronic headache disability, finding no current evidence of these conditions during the appeal period. The psychiatric claim is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for a chronic headache disability or hearing loss due to lack of current evidence meeting VA standards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and must be obtained. The VA audiology examiner concluded that an opinion could not be provided without resorting to speculation due to the absence of in-service audiometric test results. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development, including obtaining the Veteran’s complete service treatment records and providing a new addendum opinion. For tinnitus, the VA audiological examination did not include an adequate opinion as to its likely etiology, so it must also be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of an opinion from a VA otolaryngologist. The case will be returned to the AOJ after obtaining additional information and possibly scheduling another examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his military service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of left ear cholesteatoma removal have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in either condition.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, and the case is remanded for further evaluation of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a kidney disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus type II have all been denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the in-service occurrence or connection.,Service connection was not granted as there is no credible evidence that the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam, which would be required for presumptive service connection under the Agent Orange Act. The Veteran's claims were also denied because there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing service treatment records. The Veteran's hearing loss needs to be re-evaluated by VA.