Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 1, 2010 is denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations and consideration of a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service, but he has been granted service connection for tinnitus.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during his active service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to active military service.,The Veteran has been diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus, which may be presumed to have been incurred during active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss. The appellant's tinnitus claim is considered based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss disability is causally related to noise exposure during his combat service in Korea, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, as the Veteran's auditory thresholds did not meet the criteria for impaired hearing.,There is no competent or credible evidence showing that the Veteran currently has a diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus.

The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss had onset in service or was caused by his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable since its initial grant of service connection in July 2003. The audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left-ear tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year after separation. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have left ear hearing loss that was incurred or aggravated by his service, and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining clarifying opinions from private physicians and a VA audiological examination. The increased rating claim is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA audiometric examination to assess the Veteran's current hearing loss and determine its etiology. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss under direct service connection.