Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The other claims were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left scapula shrapnel injury, superficial scars, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the effects of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus on his employability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and cervical spine disability are not related to service. The claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic hypertension is granted. His bilateral hearing loss and stress fracture of the left tibia with bone spur removal are each rated as noncompensable, but his trigeminal neuralgia warrants a separate evaluation of at least 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The June 2005 VA examination report did not establish a link between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and service.

The Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right tympanic membrane perforation with hearing loss and denied service connection for arthritis of the fingers, neck, ankles, and knees. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left inguinal hernia are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for residuals of a right hand injury, middle and ring fingers with degenerative joint disease and scarring of the left forearm, as well as the claims for increased evaluations for pes planus, chronic peroneal tendonitis, tinnitus, status-post left ring finger fracture, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a left thumb injury, and residuals status-post polypectomy, colon polyps, with tubulovilous adenoma hiatal hernia with antral gastritis/gastroesophageal reflux disease post previous treatment for helicobacter pylori and chronic duodenitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The evidence does not show a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a copy of his March 31, 2008 audiogram to determine if an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss can be granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The evidence does not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.