Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for a concussion, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The issue of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), previously claimed as a head injury, is remanded.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent evaluations for left ear hearing loss (cholesteatoma) have been denied, with a separate evaluation of 10 percent granted for vertigo as a residual of cholesteatoma/mastoidectomy surgery.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to an increased rating for arthritis of the left knee from August 29, 2013 to June 25, 2015. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to service or in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board has determined that a 10% rating is warranted based on his audiometric test results.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 10, 2008, for a 10 percent disability rating for open angle glaucoma of the right eye is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were not filed within one year of his separation from active duty, and thus the effective dates for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's headaches are related to a motor vehicle accident during active duty. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including anxiety and depression, is remanded due to the Veteran's reported incident in service where he believes his drink was spiked. The claim of service connection for hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted, and the conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left shoulder, lumbosacral spine, and cervical spine are granted service connection based on chronicity in service with continuous symptoms since separation.,The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted service connection based on exposure to loud noise during service with continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD were denied. The right eye blindness and low back disability issues are remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss is found to have been incurred during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedules.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right and left carotid artery blockage, neuropathy of the upper extremities, and neurobehavioral effects are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.,Additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for asthma was reopened, but not granted as the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service. Service connection for asthma was also granted secondary to service-connected disabilities (sleep apnea and PTSD). The Veteran's hypertension claim was denied due to lack of medical evidence linking it to his period of active service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,A 50 percent, but no higher, rating for tension headaches is granted.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than March 25, 2014, and increased ratings for his left shoulder disorder were denied. His service connection claims for right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders are pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since June 5, 2017. A separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability was granted prior to March 1, 2016. The remaining issues are being remanded.