Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and ruled out any link between the Veteran's tinnitus and his period of active service. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as the current evidence of record does not provide sufficient information regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examinations concluded that these conditions are less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of various disabilities claimed by the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 5, 2011 was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. From November 5, 2011, he received a 30 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to additional development needed, including obtaining VA treatment records, National Guard service records, and a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss as secondary to his service-connected organic brain syndrome and seizure disorder. He is currently rated at 10% for his right inguinal hernia scar, but the claim for higher ratings remains pending.,The decision does not provide a specific effective date for the grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not due to disease or injury incurred in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis with sleep apnea.,The Veteran's loss of balance, fatigue, and weakness are caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis with sleep apnea.,The Veteran's headaches were not incurred in or due to service. They are not related to an undiagnosed illness as a result of service in the Southwest Asia Theater during the Persian Gulf War, nor are they due to any service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are the result of acoustic trauma during service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet continuity of symptomatology criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, left ear hearing loss, and vertigo have not been found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus render him unemployable, as determined by the Board based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided that the case should be remanded for further examination and development, including a new VA audiologic evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and review of his National Guard service records.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and his bilateral hearing loss warrants a 20% rating since September 18, 2006. The effective date for this rating remains to be determined.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type 2, is granted as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. His bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are presumed due to in-service acoustic trauma. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is granted based on presumed combat experience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus. The examiner should consider the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and post-service symptoms of hearing loss.