Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's noise exposure during service caused or aggravated these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic condition during service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by service.

The Board found the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability related to service, and denied his claim for service connection. For diabetes mellitus type II, the preponderance of evidence is against finding any link between in-service fainting spells and the current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer. Bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure from artillery fire. Tinnitus is also related to in-service noise exposure. Prostate cancer is presumed due to herbicide exposure while stationed on the USS Larson in 'brown water' Vietnam.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were incurred in service, with no presumption of service connection applicable.

The Veteran's right ankle disability and bilateral hearing loss have been rated at the minimum noncompensable level since February 11, 2014. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting the VA criteria for hearing loss, and the Veteran's in-service noise exposure did not result in a compensable level of hearing impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be etiologically related to service, thus the claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was first demonstrated many years after service, and there is no competent, credible, or probative evidence to support a finding that his military service caused or aggravated this condition.

The Veteran is granted service connection for tinnitus, as his tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss has worsened since his last VA examination in December 2010. The Board is unable to use the scores from this examination to make a determination, and he was told during a 2012 visit that he experienced a 50 percent hearing loss in both ears. The case is being remanded for an updated audiological evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the audiometric evaluations did not show any impairment that warranted such a rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, dermatitis and skin disorder, headaches, and PTSD as they have already been granted by the RO.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. For tinnitus, the Board found it at least as likely as not related to service. However, for bilateral hearing loss, the evidence did not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service acoustic trauma and current hearing loss, which is not considered a presumptive condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at a 10 percent rating since September 17, 2015. The Board affirms this decision and grants the higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted, and his rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 27, 2013, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter is granted.