Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss was denied, while his claim for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was granted and assigned a 100% disability rating effective from January 7, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection was not received prior to June 13, 2008. As such, the effective date for his granted benefits is set at June 13, 2008.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disease during or within one year after separation from service, and the current hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic spine, lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee disabilities. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have a direct relationship to his military service, as evidenced by normal audiometric results during service and no reported symptoms or issues post-service. The claims were therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and right knee disability were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, while his right knee disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and thus cannot be service connected.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, specifically exposure to loud artillery fire during his MOS as a field artilleryman. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The RO denied a compensable rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The case is being remanded to obtain clarification of the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the schedular requirements for assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened and granted. Service connection was also granted for left lower extremity, right lower extremity, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The Veteran did not have service-connected right hand cellulitis or low back disability. A 10 percent rating was assigned for bilateral foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability as defined by VA regulations. The Board also found no evidence of chronic symptoms during or after service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains about entitlement to a compensable evaluation.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is service-connected, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected skin erythema has been rated at a noncompensable level since the date of service connection, November 29, 2007. The Board finds that a rating by analogy to urticaria under Diagnostic Code (DC) 7825 is warranted for this period.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss was dismissed. The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to October 8, 2009, and a rating in excess of 40 percent from October 8, 2009, forward, for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. There is no evidence of a chronic ankle or knee disability in the record.