Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, varicose veins of the lower extremities, and prostate cancer have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Prostate cancer was not shown during service or within one year post-service, and there is no credible evidence connecting it to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is his prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and SMC for loss of use of a creative organ. The skin disorder of the feet claim was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The claims for left shoulder DJD, impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear and bursitis, right rotator cuff injury with bursitis following surgical convalescence, and right knee post-operative chondromalacia are remanded as additional examination is needed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or asbestos exposure. The effective date remains unchanged at the moment.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of in-service noise exposure documentation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a sleep disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and evidence collection. The Veteran's appeal includes claims for service connection for various conditions, but the decision is pending as more information is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that no such claim was filed prior to September 28, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety and depression) due to incomplete records and the need to obtain SSA records.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted, but the claim for tonsil cancer remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbosacral or cervical strain (claimed as back condition) have been granted. The claim for lumbosacral or cervical strain is remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent since July 29, 2009. His bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The claim for service connection for depressive disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the claims for higher ratings for headaches, epididymitis, and bilateral hearing loss. Additional development is needed to determine if there is a relationship between any current mental health disability and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure has been reopened, with the evidence showing a current diagnosis of ischemic heart disease. The Board finds that this condition is at least as likely as not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted based on evidence suggesting noise exposure in service and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims.,Obstructive sleep apnea has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for various conditions, including joint pain, bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, plantar fasciitis of the left heel, headache, and acquired psychiatric disability. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for skin neoplasms, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's skin conditions are presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. However, the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability.