Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran does not have a low back disability that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service. The Board finds that he does not have bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of his active military service.

The VA denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial evaluation for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was rated as level I, which corresponds to noncompensable disability under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus present in the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right shoulder disability, manifested by residuals of a strain, is due to an injury sustained during his period of active service. The claim for service connection for back disability has been reopened and granted. However, new and material evidence was not presented to reopen claims for left shoulder disorder and right ankle disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service, and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues of bilateral hearing loss and nasal disorder are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted in November 2007 with a noncompensable rating effective May 10, 2007. However, the appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including his treatment for otitis media and tympanic membrane perforation, or any in-service noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began during his period of active duty.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and concluded it was more likely due to noise exposure in his civilian life.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for tinnitus, hearing loss, residuals of typhoid fever, liver disease, sepsis, right kidney removal, and hypertension. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not attributable to his active military service.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as residuals of lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for PTSD were denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied claim of residuals of right ear trauma was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and therefore his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his military service, including an April 1964 car accident. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 15, 2010 and as of that date have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, and for additional development as requested.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. The right ankle disability, Haglund's deformity of the left foot, and bilateral knee disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current evidence of a bilateral ankle disability, and the Veteran did not have any other disabilities related to his period of active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 1, 2010.