Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's assertions of in-service onset and continuity are credible. Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and clarification from the private audiologist regarding the results of the September 2014 private audiogram.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no current disability of skin cancer during the appeal period, and there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed condition and active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA opinion on the relationship between his squamous cell carcinoma and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service treatment records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to missing service treatment records and the need for a new VA examination for PTSD. The issues of increased evaluation for PTSD, entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran has experienced bilateral hearing loss since his military service and the Board finds that this condition is related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal to reopen previously denied claims of service connection for pterygium and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo.

The Board has decided the appeal and remanded it due to inadequate examination findings, requiring further clarification of audiometric test results from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary artery disease did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and is not related to service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss disability was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear damage with dizziness, sinusitis, sleep apnea, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Veteran's complaints of these conditions during service are supported by the medical records, which show symptoms such as pain, popping, dizziness, and drainage in his ears and nose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right hip disability have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disability including COPD, asthma, and dyspnea are all granted. The respiratory disability claim is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding insecticide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, but his bilateral hearing loss is not. The evidence does not show a current disability for which he can be granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's reports of symptoms are credible and that there is a continuity of symptomatology from service. The Board also found that the evidence supports a link between noise exposure in service and current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by active service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection. The hearing loss issue remains pending due to lack of evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service. The claim for service connection for a personality disorder was remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has current sensorineural hearing loss in his right ear, which meets the criteria for a disability rating under VA compensation guidelines. Tinnitus is also found to be incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and potential acoustic trauma exposure during active duty training.