Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for burn scars of the neck and left arm and axilla, finding that they were aggravated in service. Service connection is also granted for a chronic neck disorder (cervical dystonia torticollis and degenerative arthritis) as it was caused by the aggravation of pre-existing scar tissue during service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) remains pending.

The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be of insufficient severity to constitute a disability for which service connection can be granted under applicable VA regulation.

The Veteran's right hand disability was incurred in service and is granted. The appeal for left foot, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities is REMANDED.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for left elbow disorder, right knee disorder, and tinea cruris.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma from an anchor chain incident. The claim for hearing loss remains pending as further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for neurological impairment due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosis and no nexus between the condition and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following service. The VA examiner concluded that it is less likely than not that these disabilities were caused by noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability creates difficulties beyond what is contemplated by the schedular rating criteria, warranting an extra-schedular evaluation of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year post-discharge. The VA examiner could not form an opinion without resorting to speculation.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is presumed to have been incurred during active service due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA audiological examination to address the functional effects due to service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with continuity of symptoms from service to the present.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable under the Rating Schedule, with puretone thresholds and speech discrimination scores indicating a mild to moderate level of impairment in both ears.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and a TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain additional VA examination results, treatment records, and formal adjudication of the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed on the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disorder. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.