Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a PTSD examination to assess his current symptoms. The hearing loss and tinnitus claims will also require an examination to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lung condition remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for service connection as defined by VA regulations.,For the period prior to June 14, 2015, the Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for dermatitis/eczema due to lack of evidence showing more than five percent of his entire body or exposed areas affected.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including noise exposure during basic training. As a result, the claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is REMANDED due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest during service and is not related to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right second distal phalanx fracture, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable disability rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding radiation exposure and noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service exposure to loud noise, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service, as his exposure to noise during active duty is conceded and he reported experiencing tinnitus since service. The Board finds that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 2, 2015 was denied. From July 2, 2015 onwards, he is assigned a 40 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation and need for additional examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining new VA examinations and opinions for his hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and asbestosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss at any time before or since filing his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension have been withdrawn. The Board has found that PTSD is related to his verified in-service stressors, thus granting service connection for PTSD. Service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure remains pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. After a thorough review, the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of VA records.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 4, 2013 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no correspondence of record received prior to that date that can be construed as a service connection claim.