Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran was granted service connection for a skin condition (acne keloidalis nuchae), residuals of left foot fracture, and bilateral hearing loss disability. Service connection for hypertension was not established.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity were denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a disability in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and considering whether to refer the claim for extraschedular consideration. The issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to TDIU are also being considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, prostate cancer, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for further development. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened but remains denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and balance impairment are all granted as service-connected. The prostate cancer is due to exposure to herbicides, the bilateral hearing loss is presumed related to service, and the balance impairment was not incurred in service.

The Veteran's initial 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced to zero percent effective December 1, 2008 due to improvement in his hearing condition. The reduction is considered proper.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right tarsal tunnel syndrome, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection is also granted for a back disorder, though the Veteran's appeal of this issue was withdrawn during his July 2011 Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of March 9, 2009, for the grant of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The decision found that entitlement to this benefit arose on December 11, 2009 when a VA examination report showed both a diagnosis and nexus to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted service connection. Service connection for glaucoma and hypertension were denied as secondary to a service-connected disability, but the claim is pending. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was granted an initial rating of 10 percent from February 14, 2004, to December 30, 2009, and a rating in excess of 20 percent beginning December 30, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable initial rating, as his current hearing impairment levels do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a lumbar spine disorder. The effective date of these grants is not specified as they are direct determinations based on the merits of the claims.

The Board determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by a significant decrease in hearing thresholds from his entrance examination to his re-entry into the Reserves. The examiner concluded that there was no aggravation of pre-existing hearing loss during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during service.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active military service and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there are outstanding VA audiology records to be obtained.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an acquired anxiety disorder, to include PTSD, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in any level of disability that would warrant a compensable initial rating (in excess of 0 percent) for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence of record.