Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected issues, including right knee and left knee disorders, PTSD, hypertension, anemia, and hernia disorder. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints, diagnosis or treatment for hearing loss during his military service. His hearing was found to be normal at the time of discharge. The VA and private medical opinions concluded that his current bilateral hearing loss is more likely due to post-service noise exposure rather than in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss and respiratory condition are denied.,His low back condition remains in dispute due to the need for further evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's trench foot and bilateral hearing loss disability claims.

The Veteran's hearing impairment was no worse than Level X in the right ear and a Level VIII in the left ear, warranting a 60 percent rating. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate examination findings. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection as they are considered to be directly related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic conditions that were noted as chronic in service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's competent and credible statements regarding in-service noise exposure and persistence of symptoms since separation from service are at least in equipoise with the negative nexus opinion based on a normal service separation audiogram.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but his claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a nexus between service and current hearing loss.,The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus in the medical records.,The Veteran's asthma is denied as there is no evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Female reproductive system cancer (fallopian tube cancer and hysterectomy) is remanded for a determination on whether it is related to herbicide exposure.,Residuals of breast cancer are also remanded for a determination on whether they are related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a left leg amputation and diabetes mellitus with extensive diabetic autonomic neuropathy affecting his nerves, preclude him from independent locomotion without the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. As such, he is eligible for specially adapted housing.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing records and updated VA treatment records, as well as a need for an examination to determine if hearing loss is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a mental disability or evidence linking it to service. The Board also found no evidence of noise exposure during service causing his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the Veteran failing to report to scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to noise exposure during service, and the Board finds that it did not begin during service or be otherwise related to an in-service injury. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been denied. The current ratings of 10 percent for each condition are maintained.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is remanded due to a reported worsening of symptoms since the last examination. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board found no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely attributable to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a skin disorder of the hands (claimed as a skin rash on hands), and therefore denial of service connection for this issue.