Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to his period of active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is evaluated as Level V, resulting in a non-compensable disability rating. The Board finds that the current evaluation adequately reflects his level of impairment and symptomatology.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his active duty, and grants service connection for this condition. For hearing loss, although there was no evidence of hearing loss at separation from service, the Board notes the Veteran's credible testimony regarding in-service acoustic trauma and ongoing symptoms since service. The Board also acknowledges that a VA examination did not provide reliable results due to lack of cooperation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not related to his service, as there was no significant change in hearing during service and the evidence does not support a finding of chronic hearing disorder. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Meniere's disease with hearing loss and tinnitus, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between his claimed in-service injury and current condition.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, epididymitis, and irritable bowel syndrome were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during his active service, and it could not be presumed to have been incurred within one year of separation. The examiner concluded that the current bilateral hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for left ear hearing loss on a schedular basis and remanded it to consider whether extra-schedular considerations apply. The VA examiner did not provide sufficient rationale in their opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for hearing loss and tinnitus, as defined by VA regulations. The service treatment records do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during service. Therefore, the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete STRs, particularly those related to the Veteran's National Guard service from August 2004 to January 2006. The RO is instructed to arrange for an exhaustive search for these records and any further development necessary.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin disorders.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing and issue a Statement of the Case for his claims of service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD was granted, but the rating for PTSD prior to March 9, 2011 was denied. From that date onwards, a higher rating of 50% was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his pituitary adenoma, bilateral hearing loss disability, and skin disease claims.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, prior to the Board's decision.