Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as his claimed conditions (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and Meniere's disease) are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now entitled to a 10% rating as of January 11, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to otitis media during military service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and a back disability, was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his hypertension.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and frostbite of the right great toe. The Veteran's testimony does not provide new or material evidence as it restates contentions previously on file.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and treatment records, as well as to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination. The claims will be readjudicated following these actions.

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for appropriate examinations.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rated at 70% combined from August 18, 2006 to July 12, 2007 did not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 8, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and the most probative evidence fails to link these current disorders to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his ear disability. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not originate in or is otherwise related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not suffer shell fragment wounds to his neck and lower back during service, nor does he currently have residuals of such injuries. The Veteran's hearing loss also does not meet VA criteria for a disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is granted, but his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an eye examination to assess the severity of his service-connected corneal scarring of the right eye. The issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for corneal scarring of the right eye from foreign body, removed, with photophobia and entitlement to a compensable disability rating for sensorineural hearing loss of the right ear are being remanded.