Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal for the claims of bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities prior to a decision by the Board.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and disability of the right foot and toes, including seeking alternate medical records and obtaining an opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have onset during his period of active service and has continued since then. The Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active military service, including noise exposure in Vietnam. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have diabetes mellitus or bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of the April 2012 private audiogram results and additional development, including obtaining outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, porphyria cutanea tarda, back disability, stress fracture of the right third metatarsal, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other conditions are not supported by evidence showing a current disability. His claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not meet VA criteria for a finding of disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not incurred in active service. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for hyperopia with presbyopia claimed due to right eye injury and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequacies in the previous VA examiner's opinion. The case will be reviewed again with a new addendum opinion that addresses the issues of causation, aggravation, and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding secondary service connection and providing the Veteran with proper duty-to-assist notice.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including as secondary to service-connected sinusitis, is now before the Board.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left hip, hearing loss disability (bilateral), chronic fatigue syndrome, and sleep disorder. The evidence does not meet the criteria for direct service connection in these cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's period of service from May 1969 to June 1971 is considered Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA). The right ear hearing loss was incurred during this ACDUTRA period and is related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not have onset during military service and is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records and audiogram results.