Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is likely the result of his active service, and the Board has granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain and/or fracture, low back pain, tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), and diverticulitis. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the available records.

The Board has determined that the appeal must be remanded to allow for further development of the claim, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several issues, including service connection for right ear hearing loss and higher ratings for PTSD, left ear hearing loss, tender scar secondary to laceration and repair of the right ear, status post removal of the right and left great toenails, status post fracture of the distal fifth metatarsal with mild arthritis of the right foot, hallux valgus of both feet, and TMJ dysfunction.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted. The thyroid disability is found to be at least as likely as not due to immunizations received during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disability had their onset in service. Service connection is granted for all four conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a seizure disorder, right ear hearing loss, or tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the TDIU claim is pending as it has not yet been perfected through submission of a substantive appeal.

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable under the rating criteria, and his claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of June 30, 2010. The decision was based on new evidence received after the initial denial in 2004.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of all pertinent evidence, including VA treatment records since November 2014.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardiopulmonary arrest, which is not service-connected. The underlying causes of hypertension and interstitial lung disease are also not service-connected on a presumptive basis due to Agent Orange exposure. Diabetes mellitus, while presumed service-connected, did not contribute to the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and an earlier effective date were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, but the earliest possible effective date is determined based on when he filed his claim. The Board found that an effective date of February 18, 1987, for left ear hearing loss disability and September 2, 2004, for tinnitus are appropriate.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records and conduct a new examination for his hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the matter for issuance of an SOC.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of a new VA audiology examination for current hearing loss disability, and the need to determine if it is related to service or service-connected conditions.