Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating. The Board denied his claim for an increased evaluation as he failed to attend the VA examination without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service records and medical records. The Veteran's claims for psychiatric, skin, hearing loss, low back, hip, and knee disorders are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically in-service noise exposure. The examiner must consider all relevant evidence and provide a rationale for any opinion expressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, except for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 80%, which meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating. However, he is not rendered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities alone, as his back problems are also significant and limit his employment opportunities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, right knee disorder, and sleep disorder (narcolepsy) are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a current disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for a higher rating for tinnitus is denied as the maximum schedular rating has already been assigned.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no current diagnosis of these conditions.,For the claim of service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy, the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if the condition is related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is addressed in the Remand that follows. The Veteran's tinnitus does not warrant a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, effective October 16, 2007. The Veteran's initial claim was denied in May 1971 but reopened on October 16, 2007, with the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to active service, but his claimed back and leg disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his hearing loss claim, including obtaining private medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by military service, did not manifest within one year of service, and are not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected deviated septum.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a chronic disability or objective indications of a qualifying chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of analysis regarding the functional effects caused by the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.