Hearing loss decisions — 2011

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical clarification regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus must be remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, particularly those from his period of active service. The VA examiner will provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, for accrued benefits purposes. The remaining claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and hearing loss/vertigo are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for award of a schedular TDIU, but the weight of medical opinion and other evidence indicates that these disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death due to gunshot wounds. The examiner could not conclude without undue speculation that PTSD caused the death or materially contributed to it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain missing service treatment records, provide a VA examination for hearing loss, sinusitis, and residuals of fractured nasal bone, and ensure all issues are properly addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by a VA audiologist's opinion concluding that any hearing loss is more consistent with age-related changes rather than noise exposure. The Veteran's tinnitus also did not have onset in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional records from SSA and VA, including any medical records submitted by the Veteran in support of his claim for Social Security disability benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims, including obtaining medical records and verifying periods of active duty.

The Veteran's right ear drum was noted to have scarring at separation from service, which is considered a current disability for VA purposes. The Board finds that this condition is related to his military service.,There is no evidence of a pre-existing deviated nasal septum or aggravation thereof during service. The surgery performed in-service ameliorated the Veteran's symptoms.

The Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence showing the Veteran currently has a bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Veteran was found to have bilateral hearing loss that preexisted his second period of active service, but the condition was aggravated by active duty service. Therefore, he is granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA, and thus cannot establish service connection for his claimed bilateral hearing loss associated with an inner/middle ear disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The issues of service connection and increased rating remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptomatology post-service. The VA examinations indicated that both disabilities were more likely due to post-service occupational and recreational noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity and left ear hearing loss disability were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.