Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to hazardous noise exposure during combat in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to address the credibility of his lay statements regarding the onset of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the reliability of the whisper voice test conducted during service. The claims will be readjudicated based on all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her hearing loss, including whether it is related to service. The case will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to failure to ensure receipt of a Supplemental Statement of the Case and issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding an earlier effective date for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction.

The Board found no evidence of a back disability or bilateral hearing loss incurred in service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since June 22, 2011. The Board found no evidence of a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss after that date. For the skin cancer claim, the Board determined there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and chronic suppurative otitis media, perforation of the tympanic membrane do not warrant a compensable disability rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss is warranted due to marked interference with employment or current severity level of disability and symptomatology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and headaches. The Veteran did not have a current left ear hearing loss disability, and the right ear mixed hearing loss was not chronic in service or continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include seeking higher ratings for right knee disability and service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion based on normal hearing levels at the time of separation and lack of evidence showing hearing loss during service. The case is REMANDED to obtain updated treatment records, schedule an audiological examination, and determine if current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 20 percent effective August 5, 2016. Prior to this date, the disability did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during active service, was not manifested to a compensable degree within the first post-service year, and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board found no evidence of an increase in left ear hearing loss disability warranting a compensable rating, and thus denied the claim for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or during the presumption period. The claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting the right and left upper extremities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability at any point pertinent to this appeal.