Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to November 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, including as due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an audiological evaluation and clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a sebaceous cyst, low back disability, right hand disability, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's appeal was not successful in any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, but finds in favor of service connection for neck disability, headache disability, and disability manifested by numbness of the fingers in both hands due to in-service injury. The claims are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, including noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began in service or within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn at a Decision Review Officer Conference.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left shoulder, right ankle, or left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee have been denied. The Board found that new evidence submitted since the February 2002 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims, as there is no current diagnosis of hearing disability in either ear or tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected, and his left ear hearing loss was evaluated at a non-compensable rating based on the average puretone threshold in the left ear.

The Veteran withdrew all claims on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is due to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, with no indication of pre-existing conditions or aggravation during service. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether these conditions were caused by noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 80 percent effective January 24, 2012. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a disability manifested by loss of balance or dizziness require additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate condition, heart disease (aortic stenosis and atherosclerosis), and stroke are denied as his duties did not place him on or near the base perimeter where herbicides were used. His claim for hearing loss is also denied due to lack of evidence showing it meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, and the Board grants special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and his service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's serous otitis media with Eustachian tube deformity, myringotomy and polyethylene placement is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.