Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) are found to be related to in-service herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection for these conditions are granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining verification of stressor events and seeking VA evaluations or treatment records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is considered a disability for VA purposes and the Board finds that it was incurred during service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be related to service, including noise exposure during active duty. The Board found that the current hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not a result of in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and for a higher rating for PTSD. The decision is final as it was not appealed after the issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his noise exposure during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the claim as the Veteran's suicide was not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's account of exposure to acoustic trauma during his active military service is credible and consistent with the circumstances of his service. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss requires further development before being decided on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain new examinations for his hypertension and bilateral hearing loss, as well as expert opinions on the Federal Register findings regarding PTSD and hypertension. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a broken right ankle. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded as they may impact the decision on his other claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The diabetes mellitus, type II disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, while the diabetic neuropathy of the bladder disability has not yet met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's hypertension, tinnitus, and right ear hearing loss have been rated appropriately. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted as there are no degenerative changes of the spine within one year of separation from service. No other claims were decided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder), and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims of service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for asbestosis is remanded due to insufficient evidence.