Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered after the additional development is completed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on the current evidence of record. The Veteran's hearing impairment is currently rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and pulmonary disorder. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, but his bilateral hearing loss and pulmonary disorder are not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest in service or within the first post-service year, and is not etiologically related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and consideration of the effect of service-connected conditions on the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or restoration of a rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability were denied. However, he was granted compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for tracheal deviation, bilateral laryngoceles, voice changes, and difficulty breathing and swallowing due to VA surgery in May 2009.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability and hearing loss. The Veteran's back disability is found to be service-connected, while his hearing loss is not.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an incomplete examination report. The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss will be reconsidered after obtaining additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the claim. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability at any time since May 2005, and therefore, service connection could not be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, tinnitus, and an increased rating for PTSD were denied. The claim for headaches was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is also denied as the maximum schedular evaluation has been assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service, and therefore diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been caused by his exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between current hearing loss disability and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's eczema, a skin disease, is found to be related to service and granted service connection. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran. Service connection for sleep apnea (a sleep disability) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for service connection will be reconsidered after obtaining a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and the need for a VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for decreased vision, bilateral hearing loss, skin rash, high cholesterol, joint pain, and herpes zoster have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and a sensorineural hearing loss may not be presumed to have been so incurred.,With reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, tinnitus was incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service exposure.

The Board denied service connection for status-post low back injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a link between his current conditions and active duty service.