Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations and medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The AOJ should also secure any outstanding, relevant VA medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his VA treatment records and for an addendum opinion from the examiner who performed his July 2010 VA examination. The examiner must address the Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure, as well as his statements regarding post-service hunting activities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not otherwise related to his military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and a skin condition, variously diagnosed as squamous and basal cell carcinoma, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's left eye pterygium was diagnosed during service and is considered to be related to his active duty service. However, the right eye pterygium was not diagnosed until years after service.,There is no evidence of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current complaints do not meet VA criteria for these conditions.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma was not due to herbicide exposure and did not have its onset during service or within one year of separation.,There is no evidence showing hypertension in service, nor within the first post-service year. The Board concluded there was no direct service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his symptoms of hearing loss were continuous since service and consistent with noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his hearing loss and fungal infection, and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's hearing manifested by no more than Level II hearing acuity bilaterally with minimum speech recognition scores of 88 percent in the right ear and 92 percent in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not establish a link between his current hearing disability and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing service medical records and a need for further development, including an audiometric examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations regarding his claims of hearing loss, tinnitus, and sinus disability. The VA will conduct these examinations and provide a decision based on the new evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but further development is needed before the merits of the claim can be addressed.

Service connection granted for right ankle disorder secondary to service-connected lumbar strain with spondylosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as well as posttraumatic arthritis of left ankle. Effective dates assigned are February 7, 2011, for all conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and service connection on the basis of aggravation for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss is considered to have been aggravated by military service, while his current left ear hearing loss is found to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA audiometric testing results and scheduling a VA audiological examination. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss within one year after separation from service and the September 2014 VA examiner opined it is less likely as not caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service connection claim for a lung disorder, to include as due to asbestos exposure, is not addressed. His claims for increased ratings for herpes progenitalis and bilateral hearing loss were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and perforated tympanic membranes, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or chronicity within one year after separation from service. The VA examiners opined that the current hearing loss is less likely related to service.