Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss during service or for many years after discharge, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss. The respiratory disorder claim was also denied as there is no indication of exposure to herbicides or other known risk factors. Service connection for PTSD was not granted due to lack of in-service diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 30 percent evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that no evidence prior to May 27, 2008, established that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warranted a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board found no presumption of service connection due to exposure to noise.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown to have developed during service or as a result of service, thus the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. For hearing loss, the claim will be remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule an examination. The skin cancer claim will also be remanded as it involves a determination regarding whether the condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability, which was rated as left ear hearing loss with a 10 percent rating prior to April 19, 2012, and currently rated as bilateral hearing loss with an 80 percent rating since April 19, 2012, has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess PTSD severity, and addressing the Veteran's claim of hearing loss. The appeal is not yet decided.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with noise exposure during active duty in Vietnam. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is currently rated at a maximum of 10 percent, which is the highest schedular rating available. The Board finds that an increased evaluation for tinnitus is not warranted as there are no provisions in the applicable rating criteria to assign a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional examination and opinions are needed to resolve the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical records and lack of clear opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's military occupational specialty, his history of in-service noise exposure, and lay statements when determining whether any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely caused by his active duty service. The issue of left ear hearing loss remains pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

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

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and extra-schedular consideration for his left ear hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable schedular criteria.

The Board found no current hearing loss disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, thus denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, the Veteran's lay statements were sufficient to establish a current disability and his in-service noise exposure was considered, leading to a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded to obtain additional evidence, including SSA records and VA examination results.

The Veteran currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss, which the Board finds is related to his period of military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a video conference hearing. The issues include service connection for hemorrhoids, initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, and increased ratings for PTSD.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability during service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's current hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for a disability. Therefore, service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.