Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete review of service treatment records and a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's hearing loss was aggravated during his third period of active duty. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the left ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer (due to exposure at Camp Lejeune), and a bladder disability (secondary to prostate cancer or due to exposure at Camp Lejeune). The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations and obtain private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not incurred in line of duty due to his own willful misconduct, and thus cannot be granted service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left ear hearing loss is remanded. The initial PTSD disability rating claim remains pending.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss in the left ear due to lack of a current diagnosis. The case is remanded for further examination and evaluation regarding right ear hearing loss and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current conditions and military service. However, the Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it was likely caused by noise exposure during his active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss disability. The decision is based on the evidence showing a relationship between the Veteran's active service and his current left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus these issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus and left ear hearing loss is rated at 100% effective July 15, 2015. Prior to that date, the condition was rated at 60%. The Board found no evidence of attacks of cerebellar gait more than once weekly prior to July 15, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected due to in-service acoustic trauma.,The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to in-service herbicide exposure, with diabetes mellitus being a contributing factor. ,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal of a non-compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to missing VA treatment records and unclear private audiogram results. The Veteran needs to provide complete VA audiology treatment records, including actual audiogram results, dated from June 2011 forward. A current VA examination is also required.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent from April 9, 2014 to July 6, 2016 and a TDIU due to PTSD was granted from November 19, 2015 to July 6, 2016. The rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is still under review.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas during the period of April 9, 2014 to July 6, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a determination on his claim of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CAD).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected.,An earlier effective date for lichen simplex chronicus, groin area is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as non-compensable, with pure tone thresholds of up to level I in both ears. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a compensable rating due to the severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's PTSD is remanded due to outstanding records not being associated with the file.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure were credible, and the competent and credible evidence related his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus to his in-service noise exposure.