Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered service-connected as it was incurred due to noise exposure during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in the Army National Guard.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, while his heart disorder is not established as due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for the former is granted, but not for the latter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to handle funds disbursed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, based on evidence showing his ability to manage financial affairs with appropriate supervision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his disability level did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim was remanded due to the need for audiological test results and a new VA examination. The case is now REMANDED for these actions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues for a personal hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of current disability for VA purposes, specifically regarding hearing loss of the right ear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service medical records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's current tinnitus is related to active service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it requires further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service discharge examination demonstrated a medical hearing loss in the left ear, and he has provided credible testimony of experiencing acoustic trauma during service and symptoms of left ear hearing loss at discharge from active service through the present time. The VA examination results demonstrate that he has a current left ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, the Board grants entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. The case is being remanded for further development of the evidence, including obtaining any pertinent VA or private treatment records and providing the Veteran with additional VA audiometric and otologic examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hyperlipidemia, and an eye disorder. The evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his present conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected disabilities are of sufficient severity to prevent her from engaging in and retaining substantially gainful employment, thus granting TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of such conditions within one year after separation from service. The claims for service connection were therefore denied.