Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The decision also denied higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected right shoulder disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is granted service connection. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to lack of a definitive opinion regarding noise exposure during service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that the Veteran's reported stressors were consistent with his service record and supported a diagnosis of PTSD. His bilateral hearing loss is also considered to be related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, bronchitis, knee disorders, asthma, and increased evaluation for major depressive disorder. The appeals were decided on a direct basis without any presumption or secondary theory of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service. The right wrist disability claim is pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability meets the criteria for a 10 percent initial evaluation throughout the course of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding no credible evidence relating these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis. The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of active service and a need for further examination to determine if his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as 30 percent disabling prior to October 18, 2010 and as 10 percent disabling from October 18, 2010. The RO denied an evaluation in excess of these ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically related to active service, and his claim for VA compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of Gentamicin toxicity was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus did not have onset in service or due to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) in the Army National Guard, as well as to obtain any relevant private audiological records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of frostbite to his neck or lower extremities, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions. The Board also found no evidence linking any bilateral knee or hip disabilities to his military service, including as secondary to his claimed residuals of frostbite.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's current tinnitus may be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the increased rating of tinnitus at a hearing. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inconsistency in audiometric results and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic retinopathy was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted based on continuity of symptomatology since military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial compensable disability ratings were denied. The appeal for bilateral degenerative joint disease of metatarsophalangeal joints with bilateral calcaneal spurs and severe pes planus was withdrawn by the Veteran, while his claims for left ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, and tinea pedis remained denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of a VA examination related to the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus.