Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and skin disability, including melanoma due to in-service herbicide exposure. The remaining issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected, with the onset during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he was able to perform sedentary work.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the veteran had qualifying periods of active duty training or inactive duty training, and to obtain medical records. The cases will be reviewed again based on this additional information.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to asbestos exposure is dismissed. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right leg injury, high blood pressure as a result of asbestos exposure, neuropathy of the left upper extremity, neuropathy of the right upper extremity, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issue of bilateral hearing loss due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are related to his periods of Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA). The dates of these periods need to be verified, and a new medical opinion is required to determine if the conditions were caused by or related to these training periods.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ear tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to noise exposure during INACDUTRA (inactive duty training) in September 1967.

The Board has found that remand is required due to unclear treatment records and the need for clarification of the Veteran's hearing loss status prior to March 26, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate a compensable level of hearing impairment prior to April 16, 2018 and greater than 10 percent from April 16, 2018.

The Veteran's hearing loss is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current disabilities, experienced acoustic trauma during service, and provided sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between his conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active service and are related to his MOS as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for brain cancer and lung cancer was granted. The claims for service connection for a headache disability, bladder cancer, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of STRs, an inadequate VA examination, and incomplete records. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for extra-schedular ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not cause marked interference with employment or necessitate frequent hospitalization.