Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss due to a failure to send the supplemental statement of the case to the correct mailing address.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to have had its onset during service, while his left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability.

The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability was incurred in active duty service and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss due to acoustic trauma during active duty service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, internal derangement of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee was denied. The Board found no current disability related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left varicocele. The earliest possible effective date is March 12, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, including exposure to loud noises during active duty. The examiner should review both entrance and separation audiometry examinations and convert any necessary findings.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss, which has been rated at 10 percent. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity and any functional effects on employment.

The Veteran's hearing loss has not resulted in a compensable evaluation for any portion of the rating period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss and granted service connection. The Veteran was also granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further audiometric testing at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center to determine his hearing loss condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA audiology examination to determine the current level of hearing impairment. The claim will be adjudicated again after this additional development.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus as it was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking nonservice-connected pension.

The appeal is being remanded due to missing VA outpatient records and the need for additional examinations to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right foot or left foot disability found to be present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination and review of the claims file to determine if there is evidence of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service combat noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn during a hearing. The Board granted the TDIU claim, finding that his service-connected disabilities (PTSD and bilateral hearing loss) preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disability (constipation) and hearing loss are not related to service, and thus denied these claims. The claim for an initial rating of asbestosis was also denied due to a lack of specific evidence linking the FVC reading to non-service-connected respiratory disability.