Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD with MDD was granted, and the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to January 24, 2018 for TDIU was also granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current disabilities are related to service despite normal hearing at separation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 50% effective September 26, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to hazardous noise exposure during his military service. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder), and a sleep disorder. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the causes of his disabilities. The 1151 claim is also remanded as there is insufficient evidence on whether VA negligence caused or aggravated the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, neck disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The VA determined that his hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for dyslipidemia as it is a laboratory finding, not a disability. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be at least as likely caused by his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, finding that no evidence prior to April 23, 2014 may be construed as a formal or informal claim.

The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's exposure to noise in service is established, but his current hearing loss and tinnitus may not be related to service based on the 2014 VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied left ear hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service noise exposure and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability (intervertebral disc disease), bilateral knee disability, sleep apnea, and prostate cancer are all denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service treatment records do not document any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the spine is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, the bilateral hearing loss claim requires additional evidence as it was not adequately addressed in the previous examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and for consideration of an earlier effective date for his hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's bladder condition, hearing loss, hypertension, and left hand and arm condition are all remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for bilateral brittle nails and a skin condition (claimed as chloracne and hair loss) due to herbicide agent exposure are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee pain with mild patellofemoral degenerative changes, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, residual scar of hernia operation (right inguinal area), and painful residual scar of hernia operation (left inguinal area).