Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a video conference hearing, and the RO should schedule him for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no worse than Level V hearing impairment in the right ear and Level I hearing impairment in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of more severe hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not present during service or within one year of separation, and the Board found no evidence to support a connection between his current condition and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability was first manifested many years after service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that it is in any way related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiology examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred or aggravated by his service, as they pre-existed his entry into service.

The Veteran's hearing impairment has not met the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's disability evaluation schedule, and thus his claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right elbow and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that referral to the VA Compensation and Pension Service is warranted for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, right hand disability (claimed as residuals of a fracture of the third finger), right hip disability, bone disorder (claimed as residuals of fractured ribs), and low back disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be the result of his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the January 2004 rating decision is not final and a timely substantive appeal was filed. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA audio examination to determine the etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus and jungle rot of the feet have been granted. The Veteran has also submitted evidence suggesting he may have psoriasis and arthritis including psoriatic arthritis related to his service. These issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The evaluation will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have onset during his military service, and the Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss was also caused by his exposure to loud noises in service. Service connection for both tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the opinion being that both conditions are due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for left ear hearing loss and right knee disability. The evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a fracture of the right index finger remains unchanged.