Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grant of a 60 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU are denied. The effective date for the 60 percent evaluation is set at September 20, 2010, based on the date of receipt of his claim for increase. The effective date for the TDIU is set at November 11, 2010, based on factually ascertainable evidence of an increase in disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and a VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss is related to service.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to his service, including exposure to noise trauma. The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding of a nexus between the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and his service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including providing VCAA notice and obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's fatal liver cancer and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has received notification from the appellant that he wishes to withdraw his appeals for hearing loss disability and tinnitus. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current hearing loss and service exposure. The peripheral neuropathy issues will also be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss of both ears and tinnitus are service-connected as they were incurred during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their clinical onset in or are otherwise related to active service, and were not manifested within one year of his discharge from active service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptomatology since service. The VA examiner opined that the hearing loss is less likely than not caused by or a result of military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability within one year of separation from service and that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss disability were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicides or other events that could lead to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development, including an extra-schedular evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and determined that it is warranted due to aggravation by active service. The Veteran currently has a diagnosed bilateral hearing disability, and his preexisting hearing loss was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as his request for an increased rating for left tibia fracture residuals, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and his appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and post-concussion syndrome are all service-connected due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim, but further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected. The issue of an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability.