Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 30 percent before November 9, 2011, and increased to 40 percent from that date. The Board found the schedular criteria did not meet the requirements for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination findings regarding whether pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted, as the evidence shows that his current hearing impairment is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. However, the initial ratings requested (higher than 10 percent for tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss) are denied as they do not meet the criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and hypertension, which represents a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and renal disability claims are remanded to obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disorder, but denied the claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,New evidence submitted by the appellant suggests that he may have had a skin condition during service or shortly thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his bilateral hearing loss and TMJ dysfunction.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them on the merits. The claim for tinnitus is granted as there is evidence of a link between service and tinnitus, while the claim for hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's hypertension has been shown to require medication for its control, warranting a noncompensable initial evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent disabling effective June 30, 2011. Prior to this date, the disability was not compensable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to noise exposure during active service or periods of ACDUTRA, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 31, 2010, and effective from that date, was denied. The Board found the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 31, 2010, and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, left wrist, right shoulder, and left shoulder disorders have been reopened. Bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service.,Tinnitus is granted as incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The underlying question of whether this condition is related to military service remains under consideration.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to his exposure to loud noise during active duty for training aboard the USS Henley in July-August 1965. As such, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated at a 30 percent rating since March 2004. The Board found that the current evidence does not warrant an increase in the rating.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not shown to be productive of a pattern of hearing loss worse than Level II, and no exceptional pattern of hearing impairment was demonstrated.,Prior to April 1, 2010, the service-connected tinea versicolor was manifested by generalized itching and manifestations on the torso; however, it did not meet criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent. Beginning on April 1, 2010, the Veteran's condition more nearly approximated a disability picture that more nearly approximated that of 20 to 40 percent involvement of the entire body surface.,Beginning on April 1, 2010, the service-connected tinea versicolor is shown to have been manifested by a disability picture that more nearly approximated that of 20 to 40 percent involvement of the entire body surface; no systemic drug therapy during a 12-month period is shown to be required.

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