Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's exposure to noise during service is established, and his contentions of current symptoms since service have been considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore denied all claims on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, his hypertension is not linked to service or herbicide exposure, and his right elbow disability was not related to service. The claim for right elbow disability was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear sensorineural hearing loss is shown to have clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his third period of active service from February 1991 to March 1991, and was aggravated during this period. Therefore, the criteria for service connection are met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability arose in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient reasoning provided regarding service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.,The Veteran's prostate disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

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

The Veteran's brain tumor was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not etiologically related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange. His bilateral hearing loss originated during service, but his tinnitus did not originate during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to PTSD was granted, with a rating of 70 percent assigned. The effective date is not specified as the award has likely been implemented by the RO.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's credible assertions of ringing in his ears during and after active service establish chronicity of the condition which was later diagnosed as tinnitus. Service connection is also granted for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a vocational rehabilitation specialist examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder, diabetes mellitus, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.,There is no diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, and the Veteran does not have a current disability that would warrant an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right little finger disability were found to not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.