Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service due to noise exposure. The Veteran's status post residuals of left knee menisectomy are not etiologically related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to service, resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (depression), a foot disability, a skin disability, and a post-operative residual scar from excision of melanoma. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than any presumption or secondary theory.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's left ear sensorineural hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced during his active duty in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with onset in service or caused by service. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence was not received to reopen his claim of bilateral hearing loss. The claims for tinnitus and left knee disorder are granted as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disorder. The effective date for service connection is set at February 18, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had onset in service or were caused by his active military service, granting him service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 6, 2009 and in excess of 10 percent as of June 6, 2009 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, as they are more likely due to post-service noise exposure and age-related factors.

The Board has determined that a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is warranted from July 1, 1974 to December 17, 1987. The Veteran's puretone thresholds during this period corresponded to designations of 'D' in the poorer ear and 'C' in the better ear.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, as his pre-existing hearing loss was not aggravated by his active duty service. The Veteran's current hearing loss is considered a natural progression and there is insufficient medical evidence to establish aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted. The claim for left ear hearing loss disability is pending in the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding the appellant's service in the Louisiana Army National Guard and his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, earlier effective dates for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media have been granted.

The Board found that the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure. The VA examinations did not provide a clear opinion on the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in his need for regular aid and attendance, including the inability to dress or undress himself, the inability to attend to his hygiene, the need to frequently adjust any special prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, the inability to feed himself or attend to the wants of nature, the incapacity to protect himself from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment; and the Veteran is not bedridden.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and cancer are related to his military service. The claims will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition. The weight of the more probative evidence showed that these conditions did not manifest during service or within one year after separation.