Hearing loss decisions — 2012

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for chronic renal failure or hearing loss, as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of hearing impairment during or within one year after service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hearing loss is less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination for his PTSD and to determine if he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities. The issues of an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or for many years thereafter, and is not otherwise related to such service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the reduction in evaluation of bilateral hearing loss from 40 percent to 30 percent effective December 1, 2010 is proper.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current disability involving tinnitus, which he asserts originated in or about 1967 during his period of military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service exposure, while his diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure remains unresolved as the claim was reopened but denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin in service, and are not related to military noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's schizophrenia did not have its onset in service or manifest within one year of service, and there is no credible evidence relating it to service. For his bilateral hearing loss, the Board found no evidence of its onset during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that it is not attributable to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is manifested by Level II hearing acuity in each ear, and he does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The Board denied an initial, noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service experiences, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his reports were not credible and that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or significant threshold shifts. The Board also found that his current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board found no evidence of a causal connection between the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and his active service, including any in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's hearing was within normal limits at separation from service, and there is no medical evidence showing permanent hearing loss due to service-connected noise exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, with a rating of 0%.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as there is no schedular basis for the assignment of a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and his malaria does not warrant a compensable evaluation. The claim to reopen service connection for acne was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for chloracne was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his case.