Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 50 percent since April 26, 2011. The evidence shows that the level of hearing loss has remained consistent throughout the appeal period.

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

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for hearing loss or tinnitus based on direct evidence and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and defective vision, as there is no new and material evidence to reopen these claims. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded by the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye disorder and bilateral hearing loss are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, nor is there any credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims of higher initial evaluations for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right fourth finger disability are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as evidenced by normal hearing levels at discharge. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions were not caused by military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,For the initial rating claim, the Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was rated at 10 percent effective August 2, 2007, and right ear hearing loss was not compensable.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge from service is not a bar to entitlement to VA compensation benefits, as his cocaine abuse during service was due to his in-service PTSD.

The Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for pilondial cyst, right ankle injury, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from New Orleans.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the claims of service connection for hypercholesterolemia and an initial rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, an increased rating for PTSD, and a compensable rating for residuals of excision of a ganglion cyst of the left wrist.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have already been affirmed by the Court, and no CUE argument has been advanced. Therefore, these matters are dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions, including back, shoulder, knee, hearing loss, and tinnitus. However, the claims are being remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected disabilities and denied the claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 8, 2006 for the grant of a 10 percent evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.