Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased rating and service connection claims. The maximum schedular rating of 40 percent has been granted, but no higher as the disability is rated based on an amputation level.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the left foot disability claim, and his bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities (PTSD) were not found to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since December 2008, and the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim is being returned to the Board for review after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The back disorder issue is remanded due to a need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss, bunions (foot condition), and asthma were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new disability evaluations.

The Veteran does not have a ratable bilateral ear hearing loss disability due to disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, hepatitis B, and erectile dysfunction (due to Agent Orange exposure) are not supported by the evidence of record. The Board finds that there is no direct link between the claimed conditions and active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports, requiring further development.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, as well as the retrieval of recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral knee disorder was denied as there is no current disability of either condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and left ear hearing loss were denied by the Board, as both conditions do not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for alcoholism and TDIU due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset of his alcoholism, as well as new arguments raised by the Veteran's representative. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's alcoholism is secondary to his service-connected depression or erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be incurred in active military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. He had Level IV hearing impairment in both ears prior to September 2, 2010 and now has Level IV hearing impairment bilaterally as of that date.