Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and it is granted as the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active military service.

The Board found that there is no evidence of hearing loss disability in the right ear during service or within one year after separation. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not shown to be related to noise exposure during service, and thus denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2008 VA examination and opinion. A new examination and opinion are needed, including consideration of post-service audiograms.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to loud noise during his time in an artillery unit.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to have its onset during service and granted service connection. The right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during active service, while his right ear hearing loss disability does not meet VA standards for a current disability. Therefore, he is granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the April 2011 audiometric findings did not warrant a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is found to be incurred in military service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, skin cancer, and a growth on the left foot are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period based on VA audiometric evaluations conducted in September 2006 and March 2012. The evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for glomerulonephritis, hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, singly or in combination, do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss should be set at January 20, 2004, based on the evidence showing a diagnosis and treatment for this condition in January 2004.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military noise exposure. The Veteran's statements from VA forms and medical records do not provide sufficient credible evidence to support a finding that his hearing loss and tinnitus began during or were caused by his active duty.

The Veteran was granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to exposure to Agent Orange and his bilateral hearing loss. However, he did not receive an initial compensable evaluation for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for renal glycosuria and diabetes mellitus were denied in November 1988. The claim to reopen the issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied by the Board in November 1989, which became final. New evidence received since these decisions is not considered new and material.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no evidence of chloracne, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, a skin disorder (including a rash and benign tumors of the face and back), or a right knee disorder during his military service. The exposure basis was presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.