Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since August 26, 1996.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ankle condition is service-connected due to in-service injury, but his right ear hearing loss disability does not meet VA compensation criteria for a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) as he does not meet the requirements of being permanently housebound by reason of his service-connected bullous emphysema.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a low back disability. The decision is based on the evidence of record, which did not provide sufficient information to grant the requested increased ratings or establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current level of severity of his service-connected postoperative bilateral foreign bodies, conjunctiva and cornea, as well as determining whether he has ruptured tympanic membranes and if so, whether they are due to noise exposure in service. Service connection for hearing loss and perforated tympanic membranes will also be addressed.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of in-service onset and nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, lymphoma, and ischemic heart disease, were denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Board found that the current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and bilateral sternoclavicular joint strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus as defined by VA regulations, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service records show that he served in Vietnam from November 1968 to October 1969. The Veteran has an adjustment disorder related to his period of active service, which the Board finds was incurred in service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acid reflux must be remanded due to additional development being required. The lung condition claim is reopened but remains pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. After review, the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his cause of death, which was due to a fall from a safe. The Board found the medical evidence insufficient to establish that any of the Veteran's service-connected conditions were the principal or contributory cause of his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his service-connected conditions caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist.