Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for PTSD, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability remains at a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his recently connected right shoulder condition and hearing loss, make it at least as likely as not that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches were denied. Service connection was granted for PTSD with staged ratings from April 23, 2004 to October 22, 2007, and for advanced osteoarthritis of the cervical spine with a rating of 20 percent effective October 10, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back injury residuals with arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, chronic asthma, and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The claim for cellulitis was not addressed in this decision. Service connection was denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the previously denied claim for back injury residuals with arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disorder, with the latter being found not related to active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability or tinnitus in service and concluded that any current hearing loss is not related to service. The Veteran's tinnitus was first noted many years after service and is unrelated to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating, as his audiometric test results fall within the parameters for a noncompensable, 0 percent, rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current conditions are at least as likely as not caused by or a result of military noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's sensorineural hearing loss in the left ear is granted as service connected, with no assigned rating and effective date not specified.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence to support a finding that they are related to military noise exposure. As such, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and post-service hearing difficulties. The Board also noted significant post-service occupational and recreational noise exposure without proper hearing protection.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding treatment records and additional development is needed before the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss can be fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was found to be a contributory cause of his death by cardio respiratory arrest. The appellant is granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitled to burial benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted as the evidence supports that these conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and further development is required.

The Board has determined that a remand is required to obtain the Veteran's private medical records and to provide him with another VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his military noise exposure during active service, warranting service connection for these conditions.