Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for low back disability and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion on whether his hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis or left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriatic arthritis is also remanded as it requires a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of service treatment records, and requests that further information be provided regarding two incidents. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing military personnel records and a need for an examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as his combined rating is less than the required percentage for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was received on October 27, 2010. The Board found that the effective date could not be earlier than this date as there is no indication of an unadjudicated claim prior to this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sleep apnea, or an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, left ankle disability, and left elbow disability have been denied. The claim for residuals of dental trauma is remanded.,Service connection has been granted for genital herpes and a psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with a combined evaluation of 100 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for earlier effective dates for his service-connected right radial head fracture and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that no increase in disability was factually ascertainable prior to October 4, 2012.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for myelitis (claimed as Guillain Barre syndrome), migraines, a low back condition, left knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis, and right knee chondromalacia patella and degenerative arthritis. The appeal is not about the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss or service connection for malaria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, deviated septum, residuals of pneumonia, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hip disorder due to incomplete VA outpatient treatment records. The Veteran is to be provided with another VA audiometric examination to determine if he currently has a hearing loss disability as defined by 38 C.F.R. § 3.385. Additionally, the Veteran is to be afforded VA examinations addressing his claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and lumbar spine disorder that include medical opinions documenting consideration of his assertions of continuity of symptomatology from service to the present time.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, calculus of the kidney, and renal disease were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection. The claim for sleep apnea (secondary to diabetes mellitus) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as a remand is required to determine if service connection should be granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to new and material evidence, but the issue is remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records from Panama City, Florida and providing a medical opinion on the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of low back disability and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was not found to have begun during active service, or be related to any in-service injury, event, or disease. His bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder was withdrawn. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to military noise exposure. The case is remanded for a new examination to determine if the Veteran currently suffers from left ear hearing loss.