Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination regarding his claimed disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, low back strain, diabetes mellitus, cervical strain, and multiple knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that a TDIU rating is warranted based on the combined effect of these disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including exposure to loud noises during basic training. As such, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the preponderance of evidence supporting this determination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had onset in service or were caused by his active military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional VA examination and treatment records, as well as consideration of the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss, tinnitus, and spine disability. The claims are being remanded for these examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service, nor are they related to any period of National Guard service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disorders are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise during his time in an artillery unit.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no continuity of symptomatology and the VA examiners opined that his current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure or ear infections during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of noise exposure in active duty service, granting his claims for these conditions.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent prior to April 22, 2011 and increased to 60 percent effective as of the date of his VA examination on April 22, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic ear infections, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board vacated its June 20, 2011 decision denying service connection for left ear hearing loss and granted the claim. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is found to have had its onset during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The evidence showed no significant change in thresholds noted at the time of his service separation examination and there was no scientific support for delayed onset noise-induced hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated as a result of in-service noise exposure, and thus denied his claim for service connection.