Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Veteran's heart condition is presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam, and he has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Service connection for this condition is granted.,While the Veteran contends that his hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service, VA medical opinions have determined that there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability within one year post-service or any continuity of symptomatology since service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for depression and major depressive disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral ankle conditions. The evidence received since the last final denial is considered new and material as it relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims (current diagnoses of these conditions).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA audiology examination to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss and to address any functional effects caused by this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were previously denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted. The claims are now reopened, but the Board finds that there is no direct service connection as none of the conditions have a link to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for numbness and burning in feet with loss of toenails due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed respiratory disability and denied service connection for this condition. The Board also did not find any evidence of asbestos exposure during service, which was necessary to establish service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, finding that the earliest possible effective date is May 26, 2009 when the Veteran's claim was first received by VA.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified bipolar disorder, is found to be at least as likely as not incurred during service. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, malaria, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), bilateral tinnitus, initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU based on service-connected disabilities. The decision also found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen a claim of service connection for asthma.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence received since the May 2008 rating decision. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is considered a disability under VA regulations, and he was exposed to loud noise during service. Resolving reasonable doubt in his favor, the Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss, as well as tinnitus, are found to have been incurred during active duty service due to in-service noise exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been shown to be worse than Level I in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, which fall within the schedular criteria for a 0 percent rating. Therefore, the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional information and medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and therefore service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in February 2008. The current appeal is about a hiatal hernia, back disability (lumbar spine arthritis), and bowel disability (irritable bowel syndrome and rectal bleeding). These claims are currently being evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim for a skin disorder. The Veteran's right wrist, hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD and/or hiatal hernia), and psychological disorder other than PTSD have been found to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between current conditions and service. The Veteran's hearing was normal at separation from service, and there is no medical opinion linking his current hearing loss or tinnitus to military noise exposure.