Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and residual neck scar have been granted. The hypertension claim is pending as the evidence is in equipoise.

The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss pre-existed service and did not worsen during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory/lung disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and examination, including a VA audiogram and an otolaryngology (ENT) evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for extraschedular consideration of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has resolved all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, finding that service connection is warranted for his bilateral knee disability and right eye disability. The Veteran's bilateral wrist condition was not addressed as it appears to be a separate claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran incurred gout, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss during his active service. The claims are therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye disability, renal dysfunction, urinary incontinence, heart disability, fecal incontinence, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, low back disability, cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims have been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, specifically noise exposure. The evidence did not show a diagnosis of hearing loss within one year after separation from service and there was no continuous symptoms since service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss disability, as he testified that it has worsened since his last VA examination.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of entitlement to service connection for an ankle disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is pending as it involves a different theory of service connection.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including consideration of a recent VA hearing loss examination. The Veteran's initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a hearing and issuance of a statement of the case regarding service connection for a cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection and exposure to herbicides. The issues include prostate cancer, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.