Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board is requesting additional VA records from Guam and will consider the claims again after receiving these records.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and finds that it had its onset in active service. The Veteran's lay statements, combined with medical evidence and an opinion from Audiologist Mashburn, are sufficient to establish a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded as the current evidence does not meet the threshold rating requirements necessary to establish eligibility for a schedular rating of TDIU. The Veteran may still be eligible for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis if it is established that he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent from June 8, 2011 onwards. For the period May 16, 2007 to June 7, 2011, he did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is granted with a compensable evaluation of 10%.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial compensable rating for a scar on his right mid-lower leg due to inadequate examination opinions, lack of consideration of all relevant evidence, and need for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew the appeal of his claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has vacated the October 2010 decision denying a compensable initial rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to an error in the claims file. The claim of service connection for hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability. The claim for a lipoma on the back, including residuals of a lipoma, will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and therefore denied the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his time in active duty.

The Veteran's right knee disorders have been granted service connection and assigned a 30% rating since December 14, 2010.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to military service. The pre-existing hearing loss did not increase in severity during service, and there is no credible evidence of noise exposure or other factors that could have caused these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is as likely as not related to his service, including exposure to loud sounds during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed low back, shoulder, knee, and hearing loss conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, diagnosed as bilateral pes planus. The issue of service connection for hearing loss was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal request.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiology examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.