Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for colon cancer, to include as secondary to radiation exposure, was withdrawn by the appellant's representative prior to a decision.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not have its onset during service, was not caused by his active service, and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no current disability of these conditions and that the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not attributable to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, including as due to noise exposure in Vietnam. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative arthritis of the right foot have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, folliculitis of the scalp, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to November 21, 2010, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and thus denied service connection.,Service connection was granted for hypertension as it is not clear whether the condition was caused or aggravated by diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service, and her right ear hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability. The left hand disability is presumed based on an in-service event.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic hearing loss disability during or following service, and that his diabetes with retinopathy warranted only a 20 percent rating. The hypertension claim was not addressed as it was remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an extra-schedular rating for bilateral hearing loss, which was previously denied by the Board.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active service. The claims for PTSD, heart condition, hypertension, and DM are denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer residuals and PTSD with depressive disorder NOS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 1, 2010. A TDIU is granted effective as of that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating for her service-connected left ear hearing loss, finding that the established schedular criteria adequately described her disability and did not present exceptional or unusual factors.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability, as his audiometric test results did not meet the requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385 during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to unclear test results and the need for a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to his in-service noise exposure, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected due to his pre-existing conditions and the denial of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.