Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure was granted, with a retroactive effective date of August 27, 2007. Service connection and initial ratings were also granted for other conditions including CAD, arthritis (unspecified), back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, stomach disorder, and residuals of cold injury of the left hand.

The Board denied the Veteran's accrued benefits claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Raynaud's syndrome, degenerative joint disease, a back condition, and a hiatal hernia due to lack of evidence showing service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset during service or within one year of separation, and thus denied both claims.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not originate in or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, as evidenced by in-service noise exposure and chronicity of symptoms. The evidence for and against the claim is at least in relative equipoise.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his in-service noise exposure is competent evidence of a current disability and continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found no medical nexus required as the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Board finds that service connection for cold injury of the lower extremities is not warranted as there is no credible evidence of a current disability and no showing of in-service incurrence or aggravation. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not show that his current condition is related to military service. The initial evaluation of Type II diabetes mellitus from November 16, 2006 to January 21, 2009 was granted at a 10 percent rating.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is related to his in-service acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and whether it is related to service. The Veteran will be granted service connection for his bilateral hearing loss disability if found to have been incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent and credible in his report of ringing in his ears during service, which he believes to be related to tinnitus. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The VA examiner concluded that the post-service development of these conditions was more likely due to Meniere's disease.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and diarrhea, sleep apnea (claimed as a sleep disorder), chronic fatigue syndrome, and GERD. The rating for generalized anxiety disorder was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.