Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his right ear hearing loss claim. The VA examinations scheduled will help determine the current severity of his right knee disability and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective from October 9, 2007. The hearing loss claim remains non-compensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a left shoulder disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and scarring of the right eye, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's headaches are considered to be related to his in-service accident, while the scarring of the right eye is also linked to that same incident. However, there was no evidence linking the bilateral hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was incurred in service due to acoustic trauma. The Board granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD, finding that the symptoms meet or approximate the criteria for such rating. The Veteran is also entitled to an initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction and TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not result from his in-service noise exposure and is not related to service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inextricability of his hearing loss and Meniere's syndrome claims. The Board will consider both issues together.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's noise exposure during military service is considered, and his current hearing loss is found to be related to his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted after the last rating decision, including lay statements regarding his hearing difficulties. A new VA audiological examination will be scheduled to determine the current nature and extent of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including his periods of reserve duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and his claim for a higher evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were previously denied in November 2007, but new evidence was not received sufficient to reopen the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. His bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete audiometric reports and the need for updated VA treatment records. A VA examination is also required to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability and service connection for sleep apnea is granted as it was incurred in service.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during service or due to in-service noise exposure, and thus denied the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and conducting examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether his combined disability rating renders him unemployable.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating. The Board finds that his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant an increase in his disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and dyskeratosis of the fingers of both hands was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for either condition.