Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hearing loss and his military service.

The Board finds that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's Army National Guard medical and personnel records, as well as VA outpatient treatment records. The hearing loss disability must be evaluated in light of the Veteran's service exposure to noise trauma.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not manifest within one year of discharge and was not caused by his active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and lung disability due to additional evidence received since the last decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is as likely as not related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty and National Guard service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, hearing loss, and PTSD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his conditions are not directly related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are due to noise exposure during service.

The Board has granted an initial compensable rating for dry eye syndrome, but remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of recent examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pre-existing right shoulder injury, in-service right foot fracture, and right ear hearing loss have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found no evidence of aggravation of the pre-existing right shoulder injury during service and concluded that the arthritis did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The right foot injury was also deemed not to be aggravated by service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered after obtaining his complete service personnel file, relevant VA treatment records, and an addendum opinion from a clinician.

This appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied because there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability by VA standards.,The claims for emphysema with COPD and residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and PTSD are all remanded as the Veteran's symptoms have worsened since his last examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is granted service connection. The initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10%. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is set at January 10, 2014. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and left shoulder disability as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these previously denied claims.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year after service that could be linked to the Veteran's active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and insufficient medical opinion to establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) are denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a relationship to service.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence, as the provided evidence was cumulative or redundant.

This decision denies service connection for numbness in the fingers, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. Service connection is also denied for a low back disability. The claim for an increased rating for anxiety with sleep problems is denied due to failure of the Veteran to report for a scheduled VA examination.