Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. Specifically, a VA examination and opinion are required in order to determine if his hearing loss, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and stomach condition are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with some issues being remanded and others denied. The Veteran is now service-connected for bilateral hearing loss, chronic sinusitis, gastrointestinal condition (claimed as duodenal ulcer), H. pylori, migraine headaches, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for respiratory disability. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not related to service. The effective date of the award of service connection for these conditions is October 14, 2013. An increased rating for left hand disability was granted.

The Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was restored to 40 percent effective June 1, 2015.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and type II diabetes mellitus were not shown to be related to service, and the Board has denied these claims.,The Veteran's nasal disorder (residuals of sinus surgery) and hypertension have been remanded for further development as they may be related to service.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a left ear hearing loss disability is granted. Service connection for the left ear hearing loss disability is also granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection of peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and no in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current disability. The claims for left hand strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to in-service noise exposure. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for hearing loss is granted. Service connection for low back disability, allergic rhinitis, tinnitus, sleep apnea, hypertension, and ED are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. Specifically, a VA medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety, major depression, and panic disorder or prescribed medications contributed to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for prostate cancer and urinary disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus due to a request from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for relevant records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there was no in-service event or injury and the condition did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was denied due to the maximum schedular rating already assigned under Diagnostic Code 6260.,The Veteran's claim for effective dates prior to August 27, 2013 for grants of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and major depressive disorder was denied as there is no legal basis for such a retroactive assignment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeals of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they were not properly on appeal.