Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records, a new VA audiological examination, and an in-person cardiac examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as the rating for ischemic heart disease, will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service, and the current condition is not related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and finds that both conditions are related to his period of active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his period of active service. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was noted at entry but improved during service, while right ear hearing loss did not worsen during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to their decision.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, but not for his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no more than level I impairment in the right ear and level I impairment in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability was dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal regarding an earlier effective date. The Board found that he is currently rated at 10% for both ears, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of a private audiometric test and for additional VA medical opinions regarding his hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

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

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a left calf gunshot wound, citing dissatisfaction with the outcome or process. As such, the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder (including PTSD). The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after service separation. The VA opinions provided were against a nexus between current disabilities and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and hypertension, finding that these conditions are attributable to service. The lower leg swelling/edema issue is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, higher initial rating for PTSD and lumbosacral spine disability, as well as his claims for left knee and right knee disabilities. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's melanoma status post surgeries was not present during service or for many years thereafter, and is not etiologically related to active duty service. The presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.,There is no current diagnosis or other competent finding of COPD. The Veteran does not have COPD.,The Veteran's hearing loss is not caused by an event, disease or injury in active duty service and the presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.,The Veteran's tinnitus is not caused by an event, disease or injury in active duty service and the presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and memory loss) is not etiologically related to active duty service and the presumption of service connection as a chronic disease is not applicable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not linked to disease or injury incurred in active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at the time of separation and no threshold shifts documented during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during active service and granted service connection. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for pleural disease remains denied.