Hearing loss decisions — 2016

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left thumb disability and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at the lowest possible level (10%) due to the nature of the findings.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a Board videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, as there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of these conditions being related to his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a right ear hearing loss disability aggravated by active service, and his current left ear hearing loss is related to this aggravation. Service connection for depression was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the potential availability of outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, particularly those related to cold injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, and his chorda tympani dysfunction with ageusia of the right tongue resulted from a VA medical procedure in March 2006. The Board finds that both conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability rating was improperly reduced from 50 percent to 40 percent. The Board found that the reduction was not proper and restored the original 50 percent rating.

The Veteran does not have a gastrointestinal disorder, to include hiatal hernia and reflux esophagitis (claimed as ulcers), that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and skin disorder were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and are not etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including exposure to noise during his time as a military police officer. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The remaining issues of whether he is entitled to a higher rating for hearing loss and to service connection for an injury to the solar plexus or xiphoid process that manifests as difficulty breathing are REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active service. The Veteran served in Vietnam as a loader and gunner aboard the USS Hensley, which exposed him to loud noise. His service records show no pre-existing conditions for these disabilities at entry into service, but he experienced symptoms since then.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's combat status and presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service supports a link between his current tinnitus and his military service. The hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria. The eye disorder claim remains pending due to insufficient information.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his active duty service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for various conditions, including soft tissue sarcoma, gastric ulcers, memory loss, headaches, hearing loss, chloracne, hypertension, and bladder cancer. The appeal is considered 'denied' as no specific disposition was provided.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma and service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The current examination provided in October 2012 was inadequate as it did not consider relevant evidence of record, including the Veteran's lay statements about noise exposure during service.