Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The competent and probative evidence is against finding that left ear hearing loss has an objective causal relationship to the Veteran's military service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not contribute to his death, and found that his death was due to natural progression of underlying cardiac disease.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, which includes the need for assistance with activities such as dressing, undressing, bathing, and attending to personal hygiene needs. The Veteran's service-connected conditions have resulted in significant limitations that necessitate this level of care.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of 1995 treatment records from Dr. P.P., and requests that the Veteran provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development being required.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development and adjudication of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records from Fort Drum and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level I or III hearing in each ear, warranting a noncompensable disability rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule. The Board finds that his claim for an initial compensable rating must be denied as there are no exceptional factors present to warrant extraschedular consideration.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim to service connection for a heart disorder and found new and material evidence. The left ear hearing loss issue is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The VA audiologists found that the Veteran's hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating based on his current clinical findings.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since July 20, 2006. The VA and private audiometric evaluations during the appeals period have consistently shown auditory acuity levels I in both ears.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not caused by his military noise exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.,The Veteran reported a head injury during service while setting up Claymore land mines, but he cannot recall specific details of this incident. His service treatment records show one instance of a headache in May 1974.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated at 30 percent from March 19, 2011. Prior to this date, the disability was not compensable.

The Veteran's claimed conditions of headaches, bipolar disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The Board found the Veteran's reported continuity of symptoms since service to be not credible.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and skin cancer-basal cell carcinoma, facial area, as well as an increased rating for residuals of excision fibroma tumor with calcification, right mandibular alveolar ridge, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated during active service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred in service. The evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 10, 2009 were denied as there was no evidence of unemployability due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed regarding the Veteran's service dates and to schedule him for a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, onset and etiology of his claimed disabilities.