Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as her claims of chemical exposure. Additional development is required.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, upper back disability, and bilateral foot collapsed arches are all at least as likely as not related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current medical opinion is inadequate. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity for an examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for mitral valve prolapse. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of the Maryland CNC speech discrimination test used in his March 2011 private audiological examination and for obtaining complete audiometric test results from VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for tinnitus and service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection based on direct service connection. The hearing loss claim was also remanded.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his service personnel records and for a VA audiology examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence meeting the criteria for a disability under VA regulations. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his TDIU and DEA benefits, left him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board found that he met the criteria for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have started during service and has continued since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by hearing acuity no worse than Level I in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The criteria for a compensable disability rating are not met.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for postoperative residuals of right ear otosclerosis and right ear hearing loss can be adjudicated.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, including noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate his current hearing acuity. The RO will also review the claims file and issue a statement of the case regarding higher initial disability ratings for disabilities of both knees and for his left little finger, as well as earlier effective dates for the grants.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and low back disability are not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for either condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's additional disabilities, including rhabdomyolysis and other conditions he claims are related to Zocor use, were not caused by VA's failure to exercise due care or consent. The evidence shows that the Veteran had been taking Zocor for years without incident prior to his hospitalization in 2006.