Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, with aggravation of pre-existing conditions. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his active duty service, warranting service connection.

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

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss, effective from June 28, 2010. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher disability evaluations for diabetes mellitus, left knee arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher evaluation for his diabetes mellitus as it does not require regulation of activities.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and inadequate explanation regarding continuity of symptoms. The Veteran's claim for left ear hearing loss will be further developed.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss pre-existed service and was not aggravated by either period of active duty service. The left ear hearing loss was also found to be unrelated to military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection based on noise exposure in service. The Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing disability is found to be due to his established exposure to harmful noise levels during service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the assigned rating of 10 percent remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric test results correspond to numeric designations no worse than Level II for both ears.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a heart disorder, manifested by hypertension, hypertensive heart disease, and chest pain. The decision also addresses his claims for bilateral hearing loss and an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for depressive disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The new evidence received since the last final denial supports these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological examination records and scheduling a new VA examination at the closest VA Medical Center. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military noise exposure or service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and back disability were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of aggravation during service, and the earliest post-service evidence of hearing loss was over 40 years after discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including scoliosis, a low back disability, bilateral foot and leg disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, migraines, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he attributes to in-service noise exposure. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and tinnitus was not shown in service or within a year of discharge from service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a hearing at the RO. The Veteran's PTSD claim will also require a new examination.