Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, with impairment of auditory acuity at Level I in both ears. The Board found the evidence insufficient to warrant a compensable rating.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection is established based on in-service noise exposure.,PTSD is granted as service connection is established based on combat stressors reported by the Veteran.,Squamous cell carcinoma appeal is dismissed due to withdrawal of claim.,Residuals of total knee arthroplasty and lumbar injury are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which render him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the condition and military noise exposure. However, it granted service connection for tinnitus as it manifested within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is determined to be due to noise exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not related to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding no evidence of in-service noise exposure or herbicide/ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's DDD of the cervical spine is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for a back disorder, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, upper respiratory infection, irregular heart beat with chest pain, hypertension, and acne have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of a diagnosed disability in the record.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, but his vertigo is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, left ankle and foot, gout, eye conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and major depressive disorder. The appeals were based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary theory.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were denied. The issues regarding initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for diabetes and initial ratings in excess of 40 percent for diabetic peripheral neuropathy right and left lower extremity were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for low back disability and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a VA examiner's opinion on whether his hearing loss was caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis or left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for psoriatic arthritis is also remanded as it requires a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of service treatment records, and requests that further information be provided regarding two incidents. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing military personnel records and a need for an examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, as his combined rating is less than the required percentage for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was received on October 27, 2010. The Board found that the effective date could not be earlier than this date as there is no indication of an unadjudicated claim prior to this date.