Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right upper extremities, diabetes mellitus type II, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The effective dates for these determinations were set at January 26, 2012, May 14, 2012, respectively.

The Veteran's multiple service-connected conditions, including his adjustment disorder and various musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. His combined rating is at the maximum level.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue regarding increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, specifically before May 4, 2015 and after that date. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's application for a TDIU was denied because he does not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for left hand, right hand, low back, left leg, right leg, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, sleep apnea, residuals of head trauma, and headache disorder as well as the psychiatric disorders. The VA will obtain all outstanding VA treatment records and provide a VA psychiatric examination to determine if any current psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issue of evaluating the Veteran's left fibula simple fracture.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and has determined that he is entitled to service connection based on continuity of symptomatology present with an organic disease of the nervous system.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being reviewed, as are his claims for tinnitus which may be secondary to his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis have been denied. The case has also been remanded for further development regarding service connection for sleep apnea (secondary to service-connected allergic rhinitis) and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with evidence at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or were aggravated by service. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear sensory hearing loss and denied service connection for otitis media of the right ear. Service connection for HIV was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II as due to herbicide exposure, coronary artery disease (CAD) as due to herbicide exposure, and left lower extremity amputation secondary to service-connected CAD. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The current evaluations for his service-connected disabilities remain unchanged.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his knees and back, as well as the issue of left leg radiculopathy related to his spine disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's PTSD, as his representative contends that there is evidence indicating an increase in severity since the last VA examination. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's left arm numbness is granted as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.,A 20 percent rating for the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is granted effective November 13, 2008.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection as presumptively caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims for left ear hearing loss, a left eye condition, tinnitus, lung disease, heart condition, hypertension and hypertensive heart disease, deep venous thrombosis, left arm embolism, edema, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's ringing and buzzing in his ears since active duty service is likely due to noise exposure. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of onset within one year of separation from service.