Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have onset during service, warranting service connection. For the period beginning May 29, 2009, his varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremities meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is pending as the evidence is insufficient to determine their etiology.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service or within one year post-service. The VA examiners have concluded that any current hearing loss and tinnitus are less likely due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was received on March 24, 2011. The effective date for the 20% rating is set to this date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, with the most recent evaluations showing a Level II hearing impairment in both ears.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and scheduling him for a VA audio examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as the Board finds that his current hearing loss disability is related to his active duty, including ROTC training.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and finds that new evidence received since the last final denial is sufficient to reopen the claim. The examiner opined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was less likely caused by noise exposure during service, but more likely related to his service-connected impaired hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, stomach disorder, respiratory disorder, fatigue, colon cancer, and hemorrhoids, have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO must also update the file with VA treatment records since October 2014 and any pertinent private treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated at a 50% rating prior to April 23, 2013 and since July 31, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in ratings beyond these levels.

The Veteran's death was related to military service, and he may have been eligible for government life insurance. However, the VA has determined that there is a positive association between exposure to herbicides and the subsequent development of respiratory cancers of the lung, which led to his death from a presumptive disability associated with Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to issues with the evidence and examination provided. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again after obtaining updated treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered service-connected as it is presumed to have been incurred during his active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination.