Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied these claims. The claim for PTSD was also denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left foot and ankle disorder, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria or sufficient continuity of symptoms to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and an earlier effective date for his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been denied. The current rating of 10% is appropriate since August 21, 2007.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's disability was manifested by level IV hearing in the right ear and level V hearing in the left ear based on testing in September 2007. The effective date remains as of the date of the informal claim of April 27, 2007.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not present such an exceptional or unusual disability picture affecting employment as to warrant consideration of unemployability on an extraschedular basis for the rating interval from January 14, 2004, through December 12, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and hypertension as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran did not have current left ear hearing loss disability, and there was no evidence that his current hypertension was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and gunshot wounds to the right shoulder and buttock, prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. His TDIU claim is granted effective June 17, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability, including whether it is related to service noise exposure or Meniere's syndrome.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his military noise exposure during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left fifth finger are not rated higher than noncompensable, and his hearing loss is also not rated higher than noncompensable. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The claim for service connection for a strain of the medial collateral ligament of the right knee remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, but these claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link between any diagnosed conditions and military service.

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

The Board has ordered additional development due to the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including seeking records from VA facilities where he received treatment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for stroke, high cholesterol (withdrawn), bilateral hearing loss, left and right carpal tunnel syndromes, low back disability with radiculopathy, depression, and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ have all been denied. The Board has also dismissed the appeal regarding high cholesterol due to withdrawal.