Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and has granted service connection for this condition. The claim for right ear hearing loss remains pending as a VA examination was not conducted.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to Alzheimer's disease, which is not service-connected. The Board finds that the appellant does not have legal entitlement to accrued benefits as no claims were pending at the time of his death and there are no existing ratings or decisions in her favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and depression) are all denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss or any other disability related to his military service.

The Board has granted a 30% disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss from June 11, 2016. Prior to that date, the Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure to noise during active duty. The claim for tinnitus, gastrointestinal disability, and prostate disability are remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hip ankylosis and bilateral hearing loss were not found to be related to service, and he was denied entitlement to nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional treatment records and to provide new VA examinations for his claimed bilateral hearing loss and bilateral foot fungus with nail loss.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding the issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for a service-connected scar, status post right knee cystectomy and entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected right spermatocele and left variscocele asymptomatic. The claim for service connection for COPD is reopened but denied as there is no evidence that it is related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a nose condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder). The most probative evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during his military service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for medical opinions regarding right shoulder and knee disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's hepatitis B and Dupuytren's contracture in both hands have been granted service connection. The Board has found that the Veteran had these conditions prior to his entry into service, but they were not noted at any time during service.,Regarding the right wrist disability, the Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the right wrist from March 1, 2014 onward. The Board found that this condition is related to his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current psychological disorder, diabetes mellitus did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking his hydropyelonephrosis to service. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and cerebrovascular disease are inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for hydropyelonephrosis, status post-left nephrectomy.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has determined that new evidence does not establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of recent treatment records.