Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, as there is at least equipoise evidence supporting this conclusion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and internal inconsistencies in the December 2012 VA audiological examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered with an updated VA audiological examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and remanded the remaining issues on appeal, including service connection for meningitis, chronic sinusitis, encephalopathy, skin cancer, Parkinson's disease, headaches, lumbar spine DDD, vision disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, neck stiffness, disability manifested by spitting blood, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder, and gait ataxia. The Board also remanded for additional development regarding outstanding records from the James Haley VAMC and Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was granted a 10% rating, but his claim for increased ratings is denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection of degenerative arthrosis of the left knee and periodontal disease with loss of teeth.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show a nexus between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure, and there was no showing of continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The case is remanded due to the need for clarification of a private audiogram and because it has been nearly three years since the Veteran's last VA examination. The Veteran should be afforded a VA audiological examination.

The Board has reopened six previously denied claims of service connection and remanded them for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations to determine if her current conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but has granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria or any link to military service.

The Veteran's TDIU and Chapter 35 educational benefits were granted for the period from March 24, 2011 to July 19, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied. However, the Board finds in favor of the Veteran on his claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to exposure to loud noise during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not show that it was incurred in or caused by service, including exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for his tinnitus. For bilateral hearing loss, the case is remanded as there are conflicting opinions and a need for further examination.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, and basal cell carcinoma. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is service connected, but his left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed herbicide agent exposure during service. The claim for right ear hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not begin in service or manifest within the first post-service year and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. As a result, the Board dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have onset during his active service, was not caused by his active service to include service-connected disabilities, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.