Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has ordered additional development to gather medical records and conduct examinations for the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not ready for appellate review and requires additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right shoulder injury due to shrapnel wound has been granted. The left knee and right knee disability claims are pending as further examination is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and pes planus are related to his military service. The Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by service due to medication discontinuation. His bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have existed prior to service but increased in severity during service. His pes planus did not exist prior to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's skin disorder, chloracne, is service-connected. The hearing loss and tinnitus claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his neck and back disorders, as well as a VA audiological examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for tinnitus must also be remanded.

The Board is remanding the case to consider new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including February 2010 private audiological treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered with this additional evidence.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is attributable to active duty service and he has been granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder and left ankle disorder are not directly related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and finds that it is not related to service. The Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. His left epididymitis was not found to warrant a compensable evaluation, and his bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent since March 25, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis. His combined disability rating remains at 80%.

The Veteran has current diagnoses of left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but the most probative evidence indicates these conditions are unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's service records show no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during his active duty. Post-service treatment records are limited and do not indicate current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes. Therefore, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating since November 30, 2005. The Veteran was granted service connection for his hearing loss at this date and assigned a zero percent (0%) rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, neck disability, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and right knee disability. The appeal is considered final due to the denial in March 1992.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as the current evidence does not reflect a recent examination or treatment records since his last VA audiological examination in June 2009.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss and his request for an earlier effective date. The Board found that the earliest date on which it is factually ascertainable that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss is causally connected to his active service was September 4, 2008.

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