Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease with bradycardia was granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. Claims for hypogammaglobulinemia and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a left ear hearing disability during service or within one year of separation, and thus could not establish service connection for this condition. The claim was denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted with an effective date of March 30, 2006. This is the earliest date on which a current disability was shown.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left ear hearing loss, claiming exposure to noise during active duty. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension to include as due to exposure to herbicides has been withdrawn. The Board is dismissing the issue of service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination and additional COPD treatment records. The initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains under review, as does the issue of an increased rating for COPD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal concerning his September 2006 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a need for another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss or low back disability in service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that either condition is related to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to acoustic trauma incurred during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be the direct result of inservice acoustic trauma, and service connection for this condition is granted. The issue of tinnitus remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran currently has a diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability, which is causally related to his military noise exposure. His hypertension is rated at 10%.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the claimed disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance of another person during his period of incarceration from May 1991 to April 1997 is denied as he does not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss that amounts to a disability for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.