Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and thus denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremity are granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremity is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability was found to be service-connected. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for all issues on the February 4, 2014 SOC.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability and hearing loss are found to be related to his active duty service, granting the claims for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no causal link to service and noting the Veteran's normal hearing at entrance and separation.,Service connection was granted for prostate cancer due to Agent Orange exposure, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

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 Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the claim for lung cancer (claimed as pulmonary disease). The decision is mixed because some issues were granted while others were denied.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected disabilities clearly interfere with his normal employability, and he is therefore entitled to a 10 percent disability rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an additional VA examination to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss related to service and whether it is caused by service.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to be incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has hearing loss and its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis B are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from his Reserve service periods and a VA examination.

The Board is unable to determine whether new and material evidence has been received at the present time due to outstanding VA treatment records not associated with the claims file. The basis of the RO's June 2008 denial of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis, in part, was that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not caused by or a result of his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus began during service and continues to persist, establishing continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence showing a nexus between current hearing loss and service.