Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain outstanding medical records. The issues are whether he should receive a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss and neurodermatitis of the hands.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsils have been granted. The cancers are presumed to be related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and employment records. The Veteran's eye disorder and left upper extremity disorder will also be examined to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year after separation from service and is not causally or etiologically related to noise exposure during active service. As such, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been denied.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected, and his initial rating for bilateral flat feet was granted at a non-compensable level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The Veteran's current hearing loss and right knee disorder were not shown during service or within one year thereafter, and the VA examiner found no nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, type II, a prostate disorder, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease as the evidence does not support these claims. Service connection was previously denied for tinea pedis in 1973, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss disability and dizziness are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for tinnitus is denied as the current 10 percent rating is the maximum schedular rating, regardless of whether the sound is perceived in one ear or both ears. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected heart condition, associated with diabetes mellitus, type II, contributed to his death from a subdural hematoma caused by a fall due to dizziness. The Board finds the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether this was the case and grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has vacated the October 2013 decision and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. J.C., conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, and determining whether his disabilities preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, blood clots of the right leg, migraines, hemoptysis (claimed as blood in the sputum), and chondroma of the left ring finger, based on inadequate medical opinions.