Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is causally related to his exposure to noise trauma in service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in service, with noise exposure during active duty. As such, these conditions are granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The effective date of the award of a 40 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged at January 23, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully evaluate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is related to his in-service noise exposure. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss disability in either ear and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and damage to the ear. The Board concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a present disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between current hearing loss and service, as there was no showing of either hearing loss or tinnitus in service or for more than 50 years following separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence supporting the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA audiological evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not warrant an initial compensable evaluation, as his audiometric test results consistently resulted in noncompensable ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is evaluated as noncompensable. The claim for right ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes planus is granted, but with a rating in excess of 10 percent denied due to lack of objective evidence supporting the need for such an increase.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent since December 10, 2008. The evidence does not support a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling under the VA rating schedule, and no higher. The evidence does not support a finding that his disability warrants an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, with the right ear at Level XI and left ear at Level II impairment, is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling an audiometric hearing test and obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an outstanding hearing request. His initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection claim for a back disorder are pending.

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

The Veteran's onychomycosis of the bilateral feet is rated at 60 percent effective April 14, 2008. His hearing loss is rated as 10 percent from May 13, 2008.