Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim of an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals is remanded due to lack of recent medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss disability is also considered to have been incurred during service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating on the basis of individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the right knee, bilateral foot disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of recent examination, and the Veteran's representative indicated that his condition had worsened since the last examination in November 2011.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, depression, and anxiety, and for bilateral hearing loss. The Board does not have further jurisdiction over these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and associated benefits were granted effective July 21, 2001.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus do not relate to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any chronic symptoms during service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing problems are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for post operative residuals of left medial meniscectomy and hearing loss were denied as the Veteran failed to report for necessary examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable since the grant of service connection. The VA audiologists have consistently found that his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted. The Board finds that the weight of the competent evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability related to his military service, including exposure to noise during combat.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and hypertension. The claim of service connection for peripheral neuropathy, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure, remains pending as a separate issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability recognized by VA standards, despite his allegations of in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during his active duty. The Board finds that the current diagnoses are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but additional evidence is needed to determine if there are any connections between his current disabilities and his military service. The Veteran needs to provide more information about specific incidents in service that may be relevant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically right ear hearing loss, right heel disability, and skin disorder of the head. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his current hearing acuity and its relation to service.