Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board also remanded the cases of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support a determination that these conditions were incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the evidence did not show a relationship to military noise exposure or service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and review the case.

The Board has denied increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for right leg injury residuals.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, increased rating for left ear hearing loss, and service connection for right ear hearing loss (secondary to a neurodegenerative disorder, claimed as Parkinson's disease) due to incomplete medical records and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (formerly claimed as heart problem) have been granted due to exposure to an herbicide agent. However, the claim for erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus is denied.,Service connection has also been denied for basal-cell skin cancer and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to confirm the Veteran's periods of active duty and ACDUTRA service with the Army Reserve or National Guard, obtain any outstanding service treatment records, and provide a VA examination for tinnitus. The issues on appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The Board will consider all evidence, including STRs not previously available, in determining whether there is a relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection for right ear hearing loss has been granted. The Board has also found that the Veteran should be provided a supplemental audiological medical opinion to determine if his service-connected tinnitus and/or right ear hearing loss either caused or aggravated his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a need for additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is insufficient evidence to determine their etiology.

The Board has determined that the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorders (including early evolving melanoma and basal cell carcinoma) need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's hearing acuity is not shown to have been worse than Level IV in either ear, and the Board denies a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dementia, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran has Level I hearing loss in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus claims should be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals as to bilateral hearing loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, and insomnia. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for clarification on the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.