Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a 10 percent evaluation from May 8, 2012. Prior to this date, the disability did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus require additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his service, with type 2 diabetes mellitus being presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is also considered presumptively related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. His claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to potential exposure to environmental contaminants in Guam, but no evidence of Agent Orange exposure. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and adjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The claim to reopen his right knee disability was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected. The Veteran experienced noise exposure in service, but his current hearing loss is not shown to be related to this exposure. His tinnitus is at least in equipoise with service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high glucose, coagulopathy (claimed as excessive bleeding), bilateral hearing loss, and ischemic heart disease status post coronary artery bypass have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection on any of these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition and entitlement to higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed lung disability, and his hearing was within normal limits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of May 18, 1978. The Board found that the evidence supported a grant of service connection based on direct service connection due to the presence of hearing loss at the time he filed his initial claim.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability due to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the Veteran's hearing was within normal limits at separation from service. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensori-neural hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are related to his military noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board granted the Veteran's service connection for bilateral lower extremity polyneuropathy and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is presumed. The Veteran was also found to have set foot on land in the Republic of Vietnam, qualifying him for presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The case will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and upper respiratory illness due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and basal cell carcinoma residuals were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury, and there is no medical opinion linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable under the VA rating schedule, and the Board finds that a compensable evaluation is not warranted.