Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent, effective July 18, 2007. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral ankle disability, and a lung disability. The Veteran was provided with VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and sensorineural hearing loss may not be presumed to be. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that his current hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged as his current hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to active service, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for right knee arthritis and finds that new and material evidence supports this claim. The Veteran's current right knee condition is found to be related to his military service, including an in-service diagnosis of osteochondritis dessicans. His bilateral hearing loss is also found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of private medical records and further evaluation by a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The case will be reviewed again with consideration of all available records, including VA examinations and private physician opinions.

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

The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to grant a compensable rating for the Veteran's service-connected sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear due to unreliable VA examination results and lack of supporting medical records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, a left knee disability, and a disability manifested by blood in the stool are being remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss existed prior to service and was not aggravated by active service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder and lumbar spine disorder has been withdrawn. The claims are dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus related to service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and determine if these conditions are related to noise exposure in service.

The Board denied reopening previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for bronchial asthma and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran argues that there was CUE in this decision, but the Board found no CUE.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by military service. The Board finds no credible evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by audiometric test results corresponding to numeric designations no worse than Level I in either ear and by speech recognition ability no worse than 92% in his right ear or 96% in his left ear. The criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.