Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his period of active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely as not related to noise exposure during his period of active military service. The Veteran's chronic tinnitus is also likely as not related to noise exposure during his period of active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and is now considering the increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss. The effective date of the grant of service connection will be assigned, and the issue of extraschedular consideration for the increased rating claim will also be addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and skin condition are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise or herbicide agents. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Korea. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and psychiatric disabilities are also being considered.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as of September 25, 2008 due to his service-connected disabilities. He was also granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical clarification regarding the etiology and nature of the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by noise exposure during active service, and the Board has established service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot disability and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to his military service or noise exposure, and thus service connection is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA clinician regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and a skin condition due to new evidence submitted since the final decisions. The appeals are now on the merits.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to noise during military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and sinusitis were granted, but the Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, neck disorder, low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder (other than the fractured third metatarsal), bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and headache disorder. The rating assigned remains at noncompensable throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for cervical spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as 10 percent disabling since the initial rating period. The VA examiner found that audiometric testing results from December 2009 did not meet the criteria for an increased rating due to the lack of puretone thresholds at 55 decibels or more at each of the four specified frequencies (1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 Hertz) and 30 decibels or less at 1000 Hertz with 70 decibels or more at 2000 Hertz in either ear. The Veteran's functional limitations related to hearing loss were addressed by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection. The appeals for hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, and sleep apnea were withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.