Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had onset during active service or are otherwise causally connected to his service. The VA failed to provide a proper examination, as required by law, which prevented an accurate determination of these issues. As such, the case must be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the previous VA examination, specifically regarding the Veteran's MOS as a wireman cable system installer.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on these issues have been dismissed as the claims were withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The Veteran had normal auditory thresholds at entrance and separation, and there were no significant threshold shifts during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of bilateral hearing loss disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and need for a medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hand disability, and low back disability due to new evidence submitted since the last rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and gunshot wound residuals due to incomplete or missing service records, requiring a VA examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred during service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot, hearing loss, and left knee disabilities were not incurred during service. The low back disability was found to be related to service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma, while his right ear hearing loss meets the VA disability criteria. However, there is no evidence of a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and has persisted since service.,Hypercholesterolemia is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes, thus the claim cannot be granted.,There is no current diagnosis of hemorrhoids or renal dysfunction. The Veteran's complaints are deemed subjective and self-reported without objective evidence supporting these conditions.,The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and nephrolithiasis which were diagnosed post-service but not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as the etiology of the condition remains unclear.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (degenerative arthritis) is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking the current condition to service.,Service connection for nephrolithiasis is remanded as there are no definitive diagnoses prior to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral knee strain due to lack of a current diagnosis. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection for depression and anxiety is denied as there are no current diagnoses of these conditions. The Veteran's right hand and left hand disabilities are also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, prostate disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to herbicide agent exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to lack of pursuit.,Service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that the condition had its onset in service or is otherwise related to military service.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection of a lumbar spine condition, but the appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence has been added to the record and requests a remand for further review of these claims. The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for consideration.