Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military service, specifically noise exposure. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the claim.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II as a result of herbicide exposure, bilateral hearing loss due to in-service acoustic trauma, and tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma.,Service connection is established for these conditions based on the presumption that certain diseases are associated with herbicide exposure, chronic symptoms during service, or in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address etiology. The Veteran contends his hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure, but additional records are needed.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly address the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss, including verifying his periods of active duty and obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU effective April 29, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be a result of noise exposure during his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was evaluated, and it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 70 percent since September 21, 2016. The Board also granted a TDIU rating based on the service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, new variant Kreutzfeldt disease (mad cow disease), higher initial ratings for left and right ear hearing loss, and an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of mandible fracture are denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on continuity of symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. He is now presumed sound with respect to eczema of the elbows, which he developed during active duty service. His foot disability (pes planus and hallux valgus) was noted at entry into service.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for hearing loss. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this matter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from June 17, 2011 to October 12, 2017 was denied. A subsequent increase to a 10% rating effective October 12, 2017 is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric testing results do not warrant a compensable rating.