Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hepatitis C, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's spinal disorder was granted a 10 percent evaluation prior to April 25, 2010, but not in excess of that. The Veteran's snapping hip syndrome was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ateriosclerotic heart disease, bilateral arteriosclerosis obliterans, bilateral hearing loss, and residuals of a fracture of the right hand, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. The Board has determined that he is entitled to a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is found to be related to his military service. His bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to service. The Veteran's tinea pedis and tinea cruris are granted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and a knot on his right leg have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of current disabilities in either condition, and the competent evidence does not relate these conditions to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability due to a lack of evidence showing a hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The claim for tinnitus was remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and his left knee disability is also rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran contends that these disabilities are more severe than the current ratings suggest.,The Veteran has not provided any evidence to support a higher rating for either of his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining clarification from private audiologists regarding their examination reports and the use of Maryland CNC testing in determining his speech discrimination percentages.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence and incomplete records.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and awarded a 20 percent disability rating for prostate cancer residuals. The Veteran's current symptoms are considered, with the benefit of doubt given to his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence of an exceptional pattern of hearing loss.,There is no current diagnosis or history of a headache disorder in the claims file. The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service. The Veteran is requested to provide information about any relevant medical treatment.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent evaluation for laceration, left ear and face with residual scar. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.