Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service records, lack of representation, and inadequate notice. The Veteran's hearing acuity deficits are claimed as caused by military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability was noted upon entry into service and is not shown to be aggravated by his service. The claims for headaches, nausea, dizziness, hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded as they may be related to a single medical condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for ischemic heart disease was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded as the timely notice of disagreement has been received.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing audiometric test results from October 2010, and the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 21, 2011 for a 30 percent evaluation of service-connected bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating, as his audiometric findings showed no worse than level IV hearing acuity in both ears. The claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further proceedings consistent with a Joint Motion, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining an opinion on the etiology of any current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral eye disability, low back disability, and bilateral hip disability. The claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% since December 10, 2015, with a prior rating of 30% before that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, right Achilles tendonitis, or left Achilles tendonitis.

The Veteran's initial and subsequent ratings for left ear hearing loss, left dorsal foot metatarsal exostosis, and post-operative residuals of a left inguinal hernia were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for any compensable rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received for bilateral hearing loss, and additional development is needed for other issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, updating employment information, and scheduling a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, reopening of service connection claims, and service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the right knee, detached retina, right shoulder, and bilateral hearing loss claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and secondary service connection for tinnitus as being related to the service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder cancer and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death, resulting in a grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 30, 2012 was rated as noncompensable under the applicable rating criteria.