Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's military service. Service connection was not granted for residuals of trauma to the left eye as there is no credible evidence that he sustained a facial injury during active duty.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as her audiometric results did not meet the threshold for considering hearing loss a disability for VA purposes. The claim for left upper extremity epicondylectomy, status-post ulnar and radial nerve decompression was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is likely due to noise exposure during active and reserve service. The other claims of service connection for low back condition, tinnitus, and migraine headaches are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be service-connected as a result of exposure to combat stressors in Iraq. Bilateral hearing loss was not found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial evaluation of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are set at May 15, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to active service, and therefore denied the claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder. The case is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Allen Park VAMC and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his skin disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not manifested during active service and is not causally or etiologically related to service.,Symptoms of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disorder were not continuous since separation from service and are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include reopening and denying service connection for low back or lumbosacral spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and neck or cervical spine disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The remaining issues of cold injury residuals have been remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the earliest document in the claims file indicating a claim was received on November 18, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of any rating in excess of noncompensable prior to February 20, 2009; 30 percent as of February 20, 2009 and prior to October 19, 2010; or 40 percent as of October 19, 2010.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss has been denied as the audiometric testing has revealed no worse than Level VII hearing in the left ear since July 18, 2001.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability meeting VA standards and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The left heel and ankle condition was not aggravated by active duty, as the surgery in 2004 alleviated symptoms resulting from the pre-service surgery. Service connection for bladder dysfunction was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and adjudicating his claim of service connection for a heart disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 30 percent. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, vertigo and balance problems, an ear infection, a low back disorder, a hip disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or chronic conditions related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% disability rating, and his previously denied claim of hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus is reopened. The issues of service connection for traumatic brain injury, bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and TDIU are all granted.