Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a continuity of symptomatology from service and post-service. The Veteran now has service connection for his hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are likely due to his active service. The issues of increased rating for bilateral hip disability and TDIU have also been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, right ankle condition, ruptured eardrum, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss has been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, or bilateral eye disability that are related to his period of military service. The VA examiner found no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus, which are rated at 50% and 10%, respectively. His combined rating is 60%. The Board finds that these disabilities render him unemployable.

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

The Board has determined that there is insufficient medical evidence to determine whether the Veteran needs regular aid and attendance or is permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities, non-service connected disabilities, or if it is possible to separate out the effects of the nonservice-connected and service-connected disabilities in this regard. The case is therefore REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his failure to respond to requests for identifying information and releases of evidence necessary to adjudicate the claim within a year.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his active duty service, including noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA compensation standards and therefore denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current hearing loss to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to locate the Veteran's service treatment records and obtain any relevant VA outpatient records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's right testicle scar warrants a noncompensable rating. The claim for hearing loss is pending in the RO.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating due to service-connected lumbar spine disability is denied, but his request to reopen the previously denied bilateral hearing loss claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and personnel records. The claims of service connection for residuals of a right fifth finger fracture, bilateral hearing loss disability, cold injury to hands and feet, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus type 2 will be deferred until further development is completed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for further development, including another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.