Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions and examination.

The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for the Veteran's hearing loss beginning June 8, 2011. The previous non-compensable rating remains in effect prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not due to service.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his left ankle disability as of September 8, 2006 (the date of receipt of the increased-rating claim). This higher rating is effective February 8, 2010.,The Veteran's hearing loss in his left ear is rated at zero percent and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided that additional evidence is needed, including Social Security Administration records, before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and arthritis can be fully adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are related to service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inconsistencies in audiometric results and potential need for a medical examination.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to verify his periods of active military service, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA will schedule him for an audio examination to determine if his current hearing loss and/or tinnitus is related to any period of active service or a verified period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for arthritis of the spine and muscle and joint deterioration have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded his claims for increased rating for lumbar laminectomy and discectomy, bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a heart condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by a VA examination report which found no link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and noise exposure during service. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and/or left ear condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no probative evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated appropriately at noncompensable level and denied an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, gastrointestinal disorder, and the aggravation of a pre-existing fibroid tumor of the right chest. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to show they existed prior to service. The VA examination did not find any noise exposure during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service, specifically his exposure to acoustic trauma during service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was more likely due to presbycusis (hearing loss related to aging).

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of disability does not warrant a compensable or higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since December 13, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.