Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims and for a left eye disability are being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely than not related to his service, but granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence of their existence.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not present during his service and is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board finds that they are not related to his military service.,The Veteran's left forearm scar does not manifest with current symptomatology.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service. The issue of right knee disability remains pending as there is insufficient evidence to determine if it was caused by or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including specifically to the noise trauma he claims to have experienced while in service.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to a need for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and finds that a current disability is related to military service. The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown at separation, but he experienced noise exposure in service without protection and post-service occupational noise exposure with protection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to noise exposure during his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or related to his active service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was granted and assigned a noncompensable disability rating prior to September 16, 2010. Since then, he has been awarded a 10 percent disability rating effective from September 16, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, New York from December 22 to December 24, 2008 is denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and the Veteran was stable for transfer.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service, including noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, including a missed VA examination and lack of available VA treatment records. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) do not render him unemployable. The Board finds no basis to grant a TDIU.

The Board has determined that there is no legal basis for an effective date prior to June 30, 2005 for the grants of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the extent of his service-connected disabilities' impact on his ability to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal involves disagreement with the initial disability rating assigned for bilateral hearing loss, which was granted in October 2007. The RO has ordered a more contemporaneous examination to evaluate the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain and review his private audiological examination from 1983, as well as additional VA treatment records. A new VA audiometric evaluation will also be conducted.