Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and his service, including noise exposure. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these issues prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and compliance with prior Board directives.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete audiometry results and treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder have been granted service connection. The left knee disorder and hemorrhoids were denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with notice regarding dental claims. The case will be adjudicated again after all necessary actions are taken.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. As a result, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to his military service. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to submit evidence.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there are no prior pending claims, and the earliest effective date that can be assigned is January 20, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous VA examination and the identification of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including a compensable disability rating for a scar of the right lower extremity and service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims were also denied for TDIU due to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions began in service and have continued to the present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to in-service loud noise exposure, including during combat in Vietnam. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher (compensable) rating due to worsening of his hearing impairment over the appeal period. For PTSD, service connection was granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. Service connection for prostate cancer was denied as there were no verified instances of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, particularly from a July 2017 examination at VAMC in Loma Linda, California. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his service connection claims. The case is therefore REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions regarding his claims of bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea.

The Veteran is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, with the latter being considered a symptom of the former.