Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as evidenced by normal test results after service and conflicting audiometric findings. The claim for service connection was denied.

Service connection granted for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection denied for atopic dermatitis, as the Veteran's current condition is not causally related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA audiology examination and consideration of an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1).

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his in-service noise exposure or any other service-related incident, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear, and thus cannot establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The VA examinations conducted in April 2012 and August 2013 showed that his hearing acuity had worsened, but did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during active service or within one year of separation, and that there was no evidence linking it to his military service. The VA examiners' opinions were considered most probative in concluding that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his time in service.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than March 8, 2005 for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of gainful employment consistent with his educational background and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal of the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been dismissed as he wishes to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that it is related to his active military service, granting the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding medical records. The issues are whether he should receive a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss and neurodermatitis of the hands.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils have been granted. The cancers are presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and employment records. The Veteran's eye disorder and left upper extremity disorder will also be examined to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year after separation from service and is not causally or etiologically related to noise exposure during active service. As such, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been denied.