Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by these conditions within the meaning of VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, to include restoration of a 40 percent disability rating, has been withdrawn. The Board also dismissed the claim for TDIU benefits as there is no evidence that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and thus denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss that is attributable to his period of military service and the evidence does not support a finding that it was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his heart condition and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not caused by a disease or injury in service, and sensorineural hearing loss was not present within one year of service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition and right ear hearing loss are not service-connected, with no compensable rating assigned for his right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The claim was also denied for tinnitus.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a left knee disability status post surgery. The flat feet/foot disability (pes planus) was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, and hernia are related to his military service. The Board also noted that he had significant noise exposure during his military career.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection were denied as there was no CUE in the March 2005 rating decision and the evidence did not show that his hearing loss or tinnitus were related to military service. The August 2010 grant of service connection is assigned an effective date of May 13, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the psychiatric disability resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency but not reduced reliability and productivity, while the hearing loss did not onset during service or have a causal relationship with service.

The Board has found that the Veteran currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss, but there is no competent evidence linking this condition to his active service. The Board therefore denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss) do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service, despite his reported noise exposure. The most persuasive evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was initially rated as noncompensable prior to March 12, 2010. From that date, the rating has been increased to 20 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria for a service-connected condition. However, as to his tinnitus claim, the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus grants service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection or a compensable rating for his claimed conditions. The appeal is denied.