Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his current tinnitus disability is related to noise exposure during military service. The issue of an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss.,Service connection is denied for Meniere's disease with transmastoid labrynthectomy.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 15, 2016 was denied because his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to lack of communication from the Veteran prior to September 25, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2016 VA audiology examination, as the examiner did not account for the Veteran's language difficulties and inconsistent word recognition scores.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the claimed left wrist and hand, low back, knee, headaches, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss disabilities. As such, service connection cannot be granted.,VA examinations were scheduled but not conducted due to the Veteran's failure to report. The opinion regarding her tinnitus was also obtained from 'LHI' on May 1, 2014.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues related to ischemic heart disease, residual surgical scars post coronary artery bypass graft, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was granted with a 30% evaluation effective March 9, 2012. The Board found that the increase in severity of his symptoms occurred more than one year prior to the date he filed his claim.

The Veteran's heart conditions, including an enlarged heart and ischemic heart disease, are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's hypertension is also presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure. However, the Veteran's headaches are not linked to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's service was not during a period of war, and therefore he did not meet the qualifying service requirement for nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The claim is denied as a matter of law.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remands them for further development as detailed in the letter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and lumbar myositis are related to his active service, warranting service connection. The testicular condition is also considered for service connection as it may be secondary to his hernia residuals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and knee degenerative joint disease were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition during the periods in question.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, stenosis of the lumbar spine (claimed as back injury), and actinic keratosis (claimed as facial and torso basal cell condition). The claim for bilateral knee condition is still pending. The appeals are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for COPD and hernia. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and headaches. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to in-service noise exposure for his hearing conditions and head injury for his headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected. His ischemic heart disease is also granted as a result of herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing acuity did not warrant such a rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right elbow chip and scar as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to provide evidence and undergo examinations.