Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected, and his initial rating for bilateral flat feet was granted at a non-compensable level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Veteran's current hearing loss and right knee disorder were not shown during service or within one year thereafter, and the VA examiner found no nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss disability and dizziness are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating is the maximum schedular rating, regardless of whether the sound is perceived in one ear or both ears. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected heart condition, associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, contributed to his death from a subdural hematoma caused by a fall due to dizziness. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this was the case and grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has vacated the October 2013 decision and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. J.C., conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and determining whether his disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, blood clots of the right leg, migraines, hemoptysis (claimed as blood in the sputum), and chondroma of the left ring finger, based on inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection is sought, specifically bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and it has not been shown by competent and credible evidence to have been caused or exacerbated by a disease, an injury, or an event during his service - in particular, repeated exposure to loud noise and consequent injury (i.e., acoustic trauma).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied his claim for service connection for a heart disability. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran had noise exposure in service, which may be related to his current hearing loss, but no direct link was found between his heart disability and service or any other potential causes.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to address the Veteran's lay history of hearing impairment and tinnitus symptoms.

The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis has been rated at 10 percent since November 27, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition affects greater than five percent but less than 20 percent of exposed areas and no systemic therapy was indicated.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux and epigastric pain has been rated at 30 percent since November 27, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition manifests persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, heartburn, arm pain, nausea, vomiting and digestive pain.,The Veteran's bronchitis is considered part of his already service-connected COPD and thus cannot be rated separately. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition does not meet the criteria for a separate disability.,There is no evidence of chronic pneumonia at any point during the pendency of this appeal. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no indication of such an issue.,Hyperlipidemia was not considered a service-connected disability and thus cannot be rated. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as hyperlipidemia is merely a laboratory finding.,The Veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since November 27, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The Veteran does not have a gastrointestinal disability other than hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux and epigastric pain attributable to service. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition has been rated at 30 percent since November 27, 2008.,Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis was not considered a service-connected disability and thus cannot be rated. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The May 1976 decision denying entitlement to service connection for plantar warts did not contain an outcome determinative error in applying the law extant at that time to the facts that were before the adjudicator. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there was no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The May 1976 decision denying entitlement to service connection for varicose veins did not contain an outcome determinative error in applying the law extant at that time to the facts that were before the adjudicator. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there was no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The May 1976 decision denying a rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma did not contain an outcome determinative error in applying the law extant at that time to the facts that were before the adjudicator. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there was no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.