Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since September 2007. The most recent VA examination did not reveal any worsening of the condition, and the Veteran remains capable of maintaining meaningful employment despite his hearing difficulties.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving all doubt in his favor. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, including noise exposure in service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, requiring further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied as there was no earlier formal or informal claim for the conditions listed.,An effective date of January 16, 1951 is granted for service connection for headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid (claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure). The effective dates are set at October 24, 2007. Service connection is granted for tinnitus but not for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss or papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not shown to be directly related to service. The Board grants the claims for erectile dysfunction and tinnitus but finds insufficient evidence to grant the claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure and denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as not related to the service-connected back disability. The Veteran's testimony supported his claims.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the March 2007 rating action is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for service-connected left ear hearing loss and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his right ear hearing loss disability claim due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied because he has Medicare coverage, which precludes VA from paying the expenses. The service-connected conditions (tinnitus and hearing loss) do not hold aggravating effect on the gastroenterological condition that warranted the double-balloon enteroscopy.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered service-connected as it was incurred during his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is appropriately evaluated as 20 percent disabling and did not warrant an extra-schedular rating.

The Board affirmed the RO's decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded to determine if the Veteran's service on USS Kearsage qualifies him for presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus due to Agent Orange exposure.

The VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service found that an extraschedular rating is unwarranted for the Veteran's right ear hearing loss.