Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has decided to remand the reopened claims of service connection for right knee, right shoulder, low back, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disabilities due to the need for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss as a result of disease or injury incurred in service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a continued 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, and thus reduced it to 30 percent effective from August 1, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, a back disorder and neck disorder were first shown after service and following post-service injuries, and hearing loss did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is upheld as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current disability levels.

The Veteran withdrew his service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and lung cancer prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service exposure to loud noises.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's case was remanded due to his failure to attend a previously scheduled hearing. The Board has granted the request for rescheduling and ordered a new hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are of such severity so as to preclude substantially gainful employment, and he is therefore entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability, as evaluated by VA audiologists, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his current average decibel losses of 55 in the right ear and 56 in the left ear with speech recognition scores of 92 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have onset during his active service, was not manifest within one year of separation from active service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for financial assistance in acquiring specially-adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA audiological examination and obtaining additional evidence. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hearing loss is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on VA examination results from November 2009 and September 2010. The evidence shows that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board has determined that there is no new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the July 1974 RO decision remains final based on the evidence then of record.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities, as the current evidence does not reflect consistent noise exposure history. The claims are being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385, and there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from May 16, 2008 is not warranted based on the October 2010 VA audiological evaluation results.