Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as new and material evidence has not been received. His entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also denied. The issues of service connection for bilateral trigger fingers and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a request for a copy of his claims file and to attempt to obtain records of several hearing tests over the Veteran's lifetime.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a current diagnosis of hypertension and to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the inadequacy of the July 2016 VA examination report. The examiner did not consider the Veteran's reported noise exposure during service and his current tinnitus, which may be related to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of hearing loss due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to his death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for a rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU. The prostate cancer claim is remanded due to insufficient development, including verification of herbicide exposure and a VA medical opinion on the relationship between service-connected epididymitis and prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition and headache condition are not service-connected. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral otitis media, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), tinea, verruca vulgaris with angiokeratoma, respiratory condition, and hypertension have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus need to be remanded due to incomplete medical records and the inability of the previous VA examination to provide a valid opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to conflicting audiometric results and a need for an adequate etiological opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection for benign prostatic hyperplasia is granted, which removes this issue from consideration. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss remains pending and requires a new VA examination to address the etiology of the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a symptom of his service-connected left ear hearing loss, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his noise exposure in combat during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of VA examination in connection with his incarceration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C prior to the specified dates were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for stomach disorder, colon disorder, acid reflux disorder, and skin disorder due to lack of a VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied, but his claims for sleep apnea and GERD are granted. The Board also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left arm conditions, PTSD, and hearing loss, prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) have been met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service, and the disability did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss was not related to in-service noise exposure.