Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and obtaining dose data from the Department of Defense regarding his radiation exposure in service. The skin cancer claim will also be developed further.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to service, but the tinnitus claim requires additional development as a statement of the case has not been issued.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to military service, as evidenced by a normal separation audiogram without significant threshold shifts and no evidence of noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to his military service and grants this claim. The right ear hearing loss disability claim, originally filed as a bilateral hearing loss disability, has been reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have had their onset in service, with the VHA expert opining that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset in service with acoustic trauma from extensive noise exposure while playing the French horn in the band. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service, and the Board finds that reasonable doubt must be resolved in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the April 2011 VA examination findings, including a new opinion on the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for left hand disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for Hepatitis C and Diabetes Mellitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in conjunction with his education and work history, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment from February 14, 2013.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, and he is eligible for TDIU benefits beginning May 2012. His diabetes mellitus II and PTSD are also service-connected, but do not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, on September 30, 2008, and from October 1, 2008, to October 3, 2008, were denied because the services were not rendered for a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, on September 30, 2008, and from October 1, 2008, to October 3, 2008, were denied because the services were not rendered for a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the issues of a higher initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss in excess of 0 percent (noncompensable) prior to July 31, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent from July 31, 2014, as well as an effective date earlier than July 31, 2014, for the award of a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss due to finality principles.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not warrant such a rating based on the VA examination results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure, and the Board finds that he has met the criteria for presumptive service connection.,The Veteran's skin disorder is not related to herbicide exposure in service. The Board finds that his current skin disorders are not linked to service.

The Veteran's left eye disability is rated at a 10% rating, effective from the date of decision. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lung disability as due to asbestos exposure. The decision found no direct service connection for the lung disability, but also noted conflicting medical evidence regarding the hearing loss claim.

The Board has found that service connection is warranted for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ)/TMD, and a disability manifested by dizziness.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to June 25, 2014 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as no evidence was submitted showing entitlement under the law prior to that date.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability had its onset in service and grants service connection for this condition.