Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, or hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and further examination is needed for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not causally or etiologically related to his military service, and thus denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has determined, based on the medical and satisfactory lay evidence, that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea had its onset during his period of active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded as additional development is required.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The issues of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and pseudofolliculitis barbae will be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The RO assigned compensation for tinnitus from July 28, 2008, which is the earliest possible effective date given the finality of prior decisions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including adjustment disorder with depressed mood, tinea versicolor, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unemployable due to his medical conditions. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined 90% disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during his service in Vietnam and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records from the Johnson and Pittsburg VA Medical Centers. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under review.

The Veteran has right ear hearing loss that is likely related to his military service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were denied, while his claim for service connection for dental injury was granted with a 10% disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims regarding service connection for rectal cancer and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The reduction from 30 percent to 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as not proper.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinea pedis has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss, with the issue being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that his right ear hearing loss was not manifested during active duty, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, and is not shown to have manifested within one year from the date of his separation from the military. His central nervous system disorder, including tremors and Parkinson's disease, is shown to be etiologically related to his active military service, to include in-service chemical exposure. However, his erectile dysfunction is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active military service, to include in-service chemical exposure or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they caused or contributed to his cause of death, which was terminal lymphoma. The Board has ordered a VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active service, including noise exposure during service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.