Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, as it originated in-service and continues to this day.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an initial compensable rating prior to August 7, 2011, or in excess of 60 percent disabling thereafter for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, a separate issue was raised but no specific rating is provided as it does not affect service connection directly. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied due to the presence of other disabilities and his own subjective statements regarding unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is due to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish a nexus to service, including the Veteran's in-service noise exposure. The character of discharge for his period of service from October 31, 1964, to November 3, 1970, is considered a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current conditions are less likely related to in-service noise exposure. The rating for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease remains at 60 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for a back/spine disability and remanded the issue of service connection for hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not a symptom associated with his hearing loss. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the appeal for an increased rating since September 28, 2016, was also denied. The current ratings are non-compensable from March 13, 2015 to September 28, 2016, and 20 percent since then.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and verification of his periods of active duty, as well as obtaining any available service treatment records. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye disorders (including right and left eyes), back disability, neck disability, right arm disability, left arm disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, and right foot disability.

The Veteran's metastatic gastric cancer claim has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. His hypertension claim remains denied, as does his bilateral hearing loss and PTSD claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease. The Board finds that the current diagnoses are not related to service.,The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his symptoms and functional effects are considered in the schedular rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for a competent medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims are remanded until such an examination is conducted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral toe disability, left ear hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and sleep disorder), left knee condition, ear condition (infections), and hypertension are all denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions in service or within the presumptive period.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is directly related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current hearing disability satisfies the criteria of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and his in-service noise exposure is considered. Resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, it is at least as likely as not that his bilateral hearing loss had its onset in service.

Service connection is denied for hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disability at present.,The Veteran's right hip, low back, left knee, right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are remanded due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no probative evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support entitlement to a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability at any point during the appeal period. For migraine headaches, the claim is remanded as there are insufficient records and an examination is needed to determine if they are related to military service.