Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the VA. The Board found that the available schedular evaluation adequately contemplates the Veteran's level of disability and symptomatology, thus denying an extra-schedular rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between current symptoms and in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus (diabetes) from January 8, 2008, forward was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities are being remanded due to the need to verify his periods of active duty and inactive duty training, as well as to schedule VA examinations for bilateral hearing loss and carpal tunnel syndrome.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of new and material evidence for the COPD claim.

The Veteran's claims for left otitis externa, left otitis media, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. However, his claim of service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the appellant's claims, including obtaining treatment records and a VA examination addendum.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has worsened, but it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's disability evaluation schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service. Service connection was not established for left ear hearing loss due to insufficient evidence regarding aggravation during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of his last VA examination and a need for a new audiological evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the lack of service treatment records and the need for more specific attempts to obtain the Veteran's participation in a hearing conservation program at his place of employment. The Veteran's current hearing loss is likely due to years of occupational noise exposure, but it could not be determined whether any portion of his current hearing loss was caused by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for asbestosis and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure or a relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is manifested by no more than level III hearing in the right ear and level VI hearing in the left ear, resulting in a 10 percent evaluation. The criteria for an evaluation greater than 10 percent are not met.