Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, determine the Veteran's current level of hearing loss disability, assess whether his tinnitus and vertigo are related to service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and provide an appropriate examination for these issues. The case will be returned to the Appeals Management Center (AMC) for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable initial disability rating for left ear hearing loss. The Veteran does not currently experience right ear hearing loss, as it is defined under VA regulations. His current left ear hearing loss is rated at Level I.

The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The Board has referred the claim to the RO for development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO due to his request.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during non-VA ambulance transport from a private hospital to the Omaha VAMC were denied as he did not meet the criteria for travel eligibility, including having a service-connected rating of 30 percent or more.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and personnel files, as well as a VA examination. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss disability and entitlement to a compensable initial rating for left ear hearing loss disability are being addressed together due to their interrelated nature.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board found no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate consideration of evidence and potential relevance to the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and an anxiety disorder, NOS with generalized and depressive features. The Veteran's hearing loss was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by active military service due to lack of evidence showing noise exposure during service. For the anxiety disorder, there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it pre-existed service, but a VA examination concluded that any current diagnosis likely arose prior to service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability was not shown during service or within one year after separation. The VA examinations did not find a causal relationship between his current left ear hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected right ear hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The RO has not assigned a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to additional development being required, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his left shoulder injury, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and residuals of an injury to the right ear drum.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his active military service, and thus grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated and found to be at Level II in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of service connection for any condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as her hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. The Board then determined that both conditions are related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection is not clear and convincing evidence, as required by the new PTSD regulations. The case is therefore REMANDED to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct a psychiatric examination, and provide an opinion on the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disorder(s).