Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his period of active service and grants service connection for this condition. The tinnitus claim is remanded as additional examination is needed to determine its etiology.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain missing VA treatment records from the Veteran's service at VAMC Shreveport. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain alone does not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 50 percent effective December 10, 2010. This rating reflects a significant worsening of his hearing impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, and he is currently rated at 60 percent. The eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 was also denied.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability remains at 10 percent, as his current hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied DIC benefits as the service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a neck and upper and lower back disorder (cervical, thoracic/dorsal, and/or lumbosacral spine) to include arthritic change as there is no current disability in either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to new medical records and a need for further examination regarding hearing loss.

The Veteran's death was not due to service-connected causes, and the appellant did not file a timely claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have been incurred in service, as evidenced by his exposure to noise during active duty and the current presence of a disability.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss, first shown many years after service, cannot be related to his period of active duty for training without resort to mere speculation. The preponderance of evidence indicates that it is more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure and aging.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, clarification of medical records, and additional development.

The Board granted service connection for benign schwannoma and hypertension, both presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection was also granted for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities with initial evaluations of 10 percent prior to January 4, 2005, which were increased to 30 percent effective January 4, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service and no continuity of symptoms after discharge. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss is more likely due to civilian noise exposure, aging, familial factors, and general health.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 23, 2005 for a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of private audiogram results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss as a result of disease or injury during his active service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

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

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 23, 2010, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date has been denied.