Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and review of the evidence to determine if service connection can be granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. However, the evidence does not relate to a disease or injury in service, thus the claim remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, right hip disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability rating from 10 percent to noncompensable was warranted due to improvement in his hearing, and thus denied the claim for restoration of a 10 percent rating.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to assess the current severity of his asbestos-related pleural disease and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to address the issue of a TDIU rating and issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case on the claim for a higher (compensable) rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to October 16, 2010 and a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted from that date forward.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but the case is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be the result of in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied prior to February 21, 2008.,The Veteran's request for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss from February 21, 2008, was also denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability that is related to service, including noise exposure. The Veteran's service treatment records are silent for complaints or diagnoses of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is granted. He is also awarded an initial compensable evaluation (10%) for hypertension, and a 20% evaluation for hemorrhoids prior to January 25, 2008. The Veteran's GERD is rated as 10%. These evaluations are effective from the date of service discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to service for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions had their onset or were otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore cannot establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's chronic otitis externa, manifested as recurrent ear infections, is causally related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and a sleep disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The decision is mixed as it grants both issues but does not specify which aspects of each issue were granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in September 2005, finding no evidence of a link to service. The Veteran's new claims were again denied as not containing new and material evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective July 11, 2007, based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that it was factually ascertainable as of this date that he could not obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment due to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear condition, including hearing loss, as new and material evidence was not received to reopen his prior claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability as defined by VA, and thus denied service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. For hypertension and coronary artery disease, the Board determined there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation from service, and therefore denied service connection.