Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining a VA examination and clarifying certain medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now receiving a 20 percent rating effective December 17, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his noise exposure during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, which is considered a direct result of noise exposure during his active military service.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss. The case is now remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The most recent VA examination in November 2013 showed a slight improvement in his hearing thresholds, but still did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, it determined that there was insufficient evidence linking his low back disability to his active duty and denied service connection for this issue.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine and hand conditions, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for Bell's palsy, hypertension, fibromyalgia, sleep apnea, hearing loss, bilateral knee arthritis, and gout were all denied as the conditions are not shown to have developed during active service or due to an established event, injury, or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, and hypertension as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a heart disability or hypertension incurred in service.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability in service and denied the claim as there was insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to noise exposure in service. The issue of left ear hearing loss remains on appeal and requires additional development.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for melasma lesions on the face and left knee degenerative joint disease (arthritis) have been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating than 10 percent for his left knee arthritis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to TDIU and denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected. The Board finds that the Veteran had noise exposure during service which likely contributed to his current condition.,Service connection for a bilateral leg and foot disability (presumed to be a skin disability) is granted as it is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, although there is no evidence of such exposure based on the provided information. Service connection for diabetes mellitus and spine disability are not established by the evidence presented.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted as the Veteran has this condition and service treatment records show he was treated for thrombophlebitis during service, which may be related to his current condition.,Service connection for a spine disability is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that any increase in severity of the preexisting spine disability occurred due to natural progression.

The Veteran's appeal is currently pending and has not been decided. The issues of service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus are on appeal.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic kidney disability, jaundice, or a scar over the right eyebrow during service or within one year post-service. As such, these conditions are not presumed to have been incurred in service and cannot be granted on a direct basis.