Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the remaining issues of left ear hearing loss, low back disability, hemorrhoids, and headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his period of active service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, which represents a complete grant of the benefit sought on appeal. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to military service and thus does not warrant service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss in his left ear does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and there is no evidence of aggravation during service. The pre-service hearing loss was noted at entry into service but improved during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 60 percent since August 10, 2009. He also received a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee from September 11, 2009 to October 5, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from February 24, 2004 to December 31, 2006 and increased to 50 percent effective January 1, 2007.,From June 7, 2008, the Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and employment history.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and left ear hearing loss to obtain supplemental opinions from a VA physician and audiologist, respectively. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed not to have existed prior to service, but its onset during service or its relationship to service remains unclear. For his left ear hearing loss, the Board found that the Veteran had impaired hearing in service, but the examiner opined it was not related to service.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected psychiatric disability, and the Board grants a TDIU from January 16, 1996.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, back disability, and foot disability are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the inability of VA to arrange for a VA examination as he is incarcerated. The case will be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss meeting VA criteria, and the Veteran's assertions regarding service connection for posttraumatic headaches were not supported by medical opinion or other credible evidence. The nose/sinus condition claim is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported history of tinnitus since service is credible and supports a finding of in-service onset. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence linking it to service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received, allowing the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss to be reopened. The claim will now proceed on its merits with further consideration by the RO.

The Veteran's combined schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities is 60 percent, which does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records, as well as clarification of previous private audiometric evaluations.