Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions originated during active service. The Veteran's competent testimony regarding his symptoms since service supports this determination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted on a direct basis. The remaining issues are remanded for further development and examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, bilateral eye disability, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss, PTSD, substance abuse disorder, OSA, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal was remanded to clarify the diagnosis and etiology of a TBI.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The claims were remanded for further development in one case.,Service connection was established for these conditions based on a finding that they are related to service due to exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss disability is reasonably shown to have resulted from acoustic trauma suffered in service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current disability level does not warrant such an increase based on audiometric testing results.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but has remanded the issue of his bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's athlete's foot is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's migraines, to include as secondary to tinnitus, are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's back pain is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's pain and limited use of the jaw is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's eye pain and scars status post surgical repair are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's plates in the entire face status post facial surgeries are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's scars of the face and head are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's type I diabetes is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, his claims are denied as there is no persuasive medical evidence or credible lay evidence that any of these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.,The Veteran's claim for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD has been remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, but he was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from June 2, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of bilateral foot and toenail fungus, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and back disability have been dismissed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for left ankle disability, right medial epicondylitis, skin disability and right ankle disability, as well as his earlier effective date claims. The Board also dismissed his appeal seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disability. The Board remanded several issues including service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for right knee and ankle disabilities, and an increase in rating for right ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and there is insufficient evidence to grant extraschedular TDIU consideration.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted a 10% rating, but no more. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to May 1, 2016 is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for VA purposes. The right and left ankle disabilities have been remanded due to inadequate examination.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, with a finding that it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and depression, as secondary to hearing loss. The remand requires a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other claims.