Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active military service due to noise exposure. The claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for left ear hearing loss and determined that he is entitled to a compensable rating for herpes lesion of the low back area.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and his tinnitus is found to be service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The decision found no evidence of current hearing loss disability in the right ear or left ear hearing loss for VA purposes, and concluded that the Veteran did not have a present disability related to his military noise exposure.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including acoustic trauma from noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that a new medical examination is necessary to address the Veteran's in-service hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his statements regarding these conditions. The AMC/RO will also obtain any outstanding medical records related to the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has dismissed the claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the January 1947 and October 1948 rating decisions regarding service connection for hearing loss disability, as the appellant's contentions are merely expressing disagreement with how the evidence was weighed and evaluated.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and teeth extraction, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected T2 N2B squamous cell carcinoma.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus did not develop due to service, as there was no evidence of noise exposure or other causation. The psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) is denied as well.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records from Dr. Nissen and Dr. T.F.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective January 14, 2009. The other conditions have been rated as appropriate under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes, and the competent evidence on the question of whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to in-service noise exposure is in relative equipoise. Resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss are met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active service and is not presumed due to noise exposure. The examiner opined that the current right ear hearing loss did not result from military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his time in active duty. The VA examinations conducted have supported this conclusion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral foot condition. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service exposure, but his tinnitus and foot conditions are not.