Hearing loss Board decisions

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.

The Veteran's most recent VA examination was conducted in April 2014, and his hearing impairment level I was shown in both ears. The Board finds a remand is warranted due to the possibility of worsening since then, as he has been issued hearing aids by the Northport VAMC. Updated VA treatment records should be obtained and the Veteran should be scheduled for a new VA audiology examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for a TDIU prior to August 16, 2016, was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine strain, right wrist strain, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to August 13, 2015.