Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial rating claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The claim for service connection for skin cancer of the neck, right arm and head was also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The denial of PTSD is based on the lack of a current diagnosis meeting DSM-5 criteria, while the grant of bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, glaucoma in the left eye, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss but granted service connection for a skin condition, diagnosed as skin cancer and actinic keratosis. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to sun, which the VA examiners found contributed to his current skin conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, claiming ears ringing noise.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 70 percent since December 2011. The May 2016 and August 2019 VA audiological evaluations showed improvement in the right ear, but not enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (claimed as vertigo and dizziness) due to lack of VA treatment records, incomplete authorization for private medical records, and need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete or unclear evidence. The VA needs to obtain updated treatment records, conduct a new audiological examination, and provide an opinion on the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's overpayment of additional VA compensation benefits for his deceased spouse was denied due to fault on the part of the Veteran, but the Board found that recovery would not cause undue hardship and awarded a waiver.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and in-service noise exposure. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his right ear hearing loss, which he contends is related to his left ear hearing loss also linked to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, diabetes, PTSD, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and skin cancer are all granted as secondary to exposure to certain herbicides.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include as secondary to head injury with headaches. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type 2, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The case is remanded for further development regarding exposure to herbicides/pesticides, chemicals, and ionizing radiation during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that his right ear hearing loss did not begin during or was otherwise caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's prior diagnoses of right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for new VA opinions regarding the etiology of his hearing loss, tinnitus, and arm disabilities. The claims for sleep apnea are also being remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service-connected due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and in-service noise exposure. The Board concluded that age-related hearing loss is more likely the cause of the Veteran's current condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service connected due to exposure to loud noise during service and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the case is remanded to obtain inpatient treatment records from Fort Campbell during the Veteran's heat stroke hospitalization.