Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new audiology examination. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private audiological examination records and clarifying the use of the Maryland CNC test in any private evaluations. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The right knee disability claim is pending in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, low back disorder, disability manifested by pain in legs and feet, and PTSD were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have current disabilities as claimed.

The Veteran's tinnitus and PTSD are service-connected, with the tinnitus granted based on in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder tension, bilateral hearing loss, and cognitive disorder and neurotoxicity due to solvent exposure. The rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations, and thus denied his claim. For his pes planus/metatarsalgia, the Board determined that it was incurred during service as he had pre-existing pes planus that was aggravated by his military duties.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's exposure to acoustic trauma during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and calcaneal spur of the right heel were denied. The Veteran's sleep apnea was not found to warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be readjudicated after any additional development.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. He will also be scheduled for a VA psychiatric examination to assess his PTSD and a VA audiological examination to evaluate his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect. The VA examiners found that the Veteran has significant occupational impairment from nonservice-connected conditions such as shortness of breath, low back condition, and memory loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not shown to be manifested by worse than a level IV impairment of auditory acuity in the right ear and level X impairment of acuity in the left ear, which results in a 20% rating. The Board finds that the current 30% rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and SSA disability benefits information. A VA examination is also required to determine the etiology of any current hearing loss.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran currently suffers from these conditions, which are believed to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to acoustic trauma during active military service and thus grants her claim for service connection. The evidence does not support a finding of a current bilateral hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.