Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his preexisting conditions did not worsen during service and were not related to service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection of the claimed conditions. The issues are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss did not worsen beyond its natural progression during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lung disability (to include COPD), sleep disability, and restless leg syndrome due to incomplete verification of the appellant's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was dismissed. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted the reopening of a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new evidence supports a link between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for enucleation of the right eye due to malignant melanoma was reopened, and he is now granted service connection. His claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as the Veteran does not have a current disability that meets the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during his military service due to noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to address the Veteran's claims of hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus.

Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for stomach ulcers is denied.,Service connection for a heart disability is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for CAD was denied, and he is now receiving a 30 percent rating from November 21, 2016. The appeal on the earlier effective date issue has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development and clarification, including service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss disability, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and hypertensive renal disease. The Veteran's claims are pending due to incomplete VA records and lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder), and a low back disability due to lack of evidence showing in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2013 VA audiological examination, which did not consider the possibility that his current hearing disability may be related to service despite normal hearing at separation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ankle disability due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, as his education and previous work experience qualify him for sedentary or non-sedentary work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral vestibular disability (claimed as vertigo) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a repeat VNG test.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for a respiratory disorder including pneumonia and COPD. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is considered to be due to in-service noise exposure, while the evidence does not support a finding of a current disability of pneumonia or COPD.

The Veteran's son, who is an adult over the age of 23 and not incapable of self-support, does not qualify for accrued benefits as he did not bear any expenses related to his father's last illness or burial. The Board denied the claim for accrued benefits due to lack of eligibility under VA laws and regulations.