Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes cavus and left ear hearing loss. The claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is remanded due to evidence of continued deterioration since the last examination.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and granted it. The Veteran's current hearing loss disability is considered a result of in-service noise exposure, but further examination is needed to determine if this is proximately due to or a result of service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran was granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The low back disorder is also service connected.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus) has been established.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a request for a videoconference hearing. Service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right-ear hearing loss is attributable to acoustic trauma he experienced during active service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's renal cancer was caused by herbicide exposure and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death. The appeal is now pending with the RO.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current rating of 30 percent already takes into account the severity of his hearing impairment, which is considered in the current schedular rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any current disability due to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims was incurred during active duty. The VA has ordered additional verification of his service and requested that the claims file be reviewed by a VA examiner to determine if there is any new evidence that would support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a retrospective medical opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities rendered her unemployable from April 5, 2006 to December 31, 2007. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining this information.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional information and records, including SSA records and treatment records from VA. The Veteran's claims for service connection on these issues are pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and lumbosacral spine disability, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is now entitled to a full merits review on these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as the newly submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to assess the impact of his hearing loss on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition. The Veteran was also found not to meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at the time of his separation from service and no significant threshold shifts throughout military service. The opinion provided by the May 2011 VA examiner was given more weight due to its consideration of all available evidence and medical rationale.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right hip disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for a lumbar spine disability has been withdrawn. The claim of an earlier effective date for the right knee disability is dismissed as it constitutes a freestanding claim. The psychiatric disability does not meet the criteria for a higher than 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and a VA examination.