Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability did not demonstrate an actual improvement warranting a reduction from 40 to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and he was assigned a combined rating of 20 percent effective July 25, 2007. An additional attorney fee of $909.60 is awarded based on the 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board finds that neither disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA records and a medical opinion regarding his claims for service connection of various cancers, including those presumed due to herbicide exposure. The cause of death claim will also be addressed.

The Veteran does not have evidence of a current disability related to service, and the Board finds that his hearing loss is not due to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability, both of which are found to have been incurred in service. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset of these conditions were considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records, including audiograms from 1980-1988. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being evaluated again by an examiner with expertise.

The Board finds that the current bilateral hearing loss disability is likely due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and other issues.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a hearing disability during or within one year after service, and the most probative evidence shows that his current hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for heart disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now being reviewed on their merits. The appeals for some conditions, such as hearing loss and arthritis of multiple joints, were not fully developed due to a lack of evidence or because they were previously denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records, as well as possible private treatment records.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, with the preponderance of evidence indicating they are due to post-service noise exposure.,Hypertension was found to have existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's COPD is not related to herbicide exposure or any other incident of service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and hypertension, which are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus (to include as a result of herbicide exposure), and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities are denied. The evidence does not establish current disabilities or show that any claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.