Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA audiology examination.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current hearing loss and whether it is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right ear hearing loss. The VA examiner found that the current right ear hearing loss is not related to service, but the Board has decided it needs a new examination to determine if there is any link between his military service and his current condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss was granted. For his respiratory disability, the initial rating prior to October 30, 2009, and a higher rating beginning October 30, 2009, were granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by his service. The weight of the competent and credible evidence is against finding that these conditions began during his military service or are related to his service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and denied both the new issue of service connection for fungus infection of the right ear and the request for a compensable evaluation for left ear fungus infection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to insufficient evidence on which to make a reasoned determination. The case will be reviewed again after additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for an opinion from a qualified health care provider.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are granted as service-connected, with the condition of tinnitus being attributed to exposure to loud noise during active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for TDIU was granted, with the effective date being from the date of receipt of a complete application or from the date of entitlement.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss pre-existed service and was not aggravated by military service. The right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied as they did not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. This includes obtaining his entrance and separation examinations, as well as any relevant treatment records from Ireland Army Community Hospital.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the inadequacy of the April 2008 VA examination, which did not consider the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma and its potential relation to his current bilateral hearing loss. The case is now returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a broken nose, finding no evidence of such disabilities in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding noise exposure were not considered probative due to the lack of medical nexus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his active military service, including exposure to noise from aircraft. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection. The initial compensable disability rating claim for residuals, scar, post splenomegaly, dermatofibroma also failed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period prior to June 2, 2010.