Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease (claimed as a heart condition), and hypertension (claimed as a heart condition) is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not meet the threshold requirements of impaired hearing for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's son, the Appellant, is seeking accrued benefits due to his father's death. The claim was initially denied because the Appellant did not meet the eligibility criteria for accrued benefits as he was over 18 years old at the time of his father's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the left knee disability claim, and that there was no evidence of a current low back or hearing loss disability. Tinnitus and PTSD were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. The Veteran's claims of prostate cancer and hypertension are being remanded due to a lack of verification regarding herbicide exposure. His claim for depression is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with his other service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and is now pursuing an effective date prior to September 12, 2009.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on current audiometric test results.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he contends is due to acoustic trauma sustained while serving with the United States Air Force. The case is REMANDED for additional development including locating a 1977 separation examination report and obtaining any relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted and rated at 70 percent since September 17, 2007. The rating will be reduced to 30 percent effective April 1, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, hemorrhoids, and hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have left ear hearing impairment for VA compensation purposes upon entrance into service but exhibited left ear hearing impairment at 4000 Hertz while on active duty. Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss. Right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in service and sensorineural hearing loss may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disorder (claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure) was not addressed in the decision.,Service connection for hypertension was granted based on its secondary nature to PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such in-service exposure or manifestations. The claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury. The claim for hearing loss remains denied as it does not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not originate during military service or until decades thereafter, and is not otherwise etiologically related thereto. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied by operation of law. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for pes planus, but remanded the issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the previous denial of service connection for pes planus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had current bilateral hearing loss or a compensable back disability.