Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and eye disability.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities from September 27, 2005.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and bilateral hearing loss were not found to be related to service, including any exposure to ionizing radiation or zinc chromate. The claim for prostate cancer was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that manifested in-service or within one year after separation from service. For the hearing loss claim, the Veteran's military duties did not include noise exposure and his hearing was normal at both entrance and exit physical examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active duty service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, prostate disability, and hand tingling and pain are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted a disability rating of 70 percent, effective from May 15, 2014. The right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss have also been granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and VA medical records. The issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders (including PTSD) and sleep apnea are also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin condition is remanded due to incomplete development of the record. The VA examiner must determine if the Veteran's skin conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip osteoarthritis and trochanteric bursitis, and right knee disability were denied. The Veteran was not granted any increased ratings.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the remaining claims. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, with the evidence being in equipoise.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities or evidence of in-service injuries, events, or diseases related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The decision found that there was no current disability for VA purposes in either case.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and his military service. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was also denied, but this issue is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim which must be reconsidered first.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is now considered. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted, as the Veteran has provided credible testimony regarding a continuous presence of symptoms since service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for a left ankle disability. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss disabilities, tinnitus, and pleomorphic sarcoma, right upper extremity have all been denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event or injury that would support these claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability of hearing loss in the left ear that meets VA criteria.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability is dismissed as moot due to prior service connection already granted in August 1978.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for service connection and rating for obstructive sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss.