Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating based on the current schedular criteria. The claim for TDIU has been raised but not adjudicated.

The Veteran's right eye uveitis is found to be service-connected, with the Board granting service connection for this condition. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for fibromyalgia and left knee meniscus strain are remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA medical records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any lumbar spine, left leg, bilateral knee and/or bilateral foot disabilities, sinus disability, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout has been granted, and his request to reopen a claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle rash was withdrawn. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, anxiety and alcohol abuse.,Service connection is denied for hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or any other compensable level of hearing loss within one year after separation from service.,Service connection is denied for tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or any other compensable level of hearing loss within one year after separation from service.,Service connection is denied for a respiratory/lung disorder (to include COPD and lung nodules) due to lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred in or caused by service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his right ear hearing loss. The issues are related to service connection based on new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to his period of active duty, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is due to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that new evidence, including a private audiogram from 2007 showing left ear hearing loss worsening compared to previous records, raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The Board also determined that pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service-related noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable throughout the rating period on appeal. The VA examinations conducted have shown that his hearing acuity is within the range of Level I and II, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated during his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not incurred in line of duty due to his own willful misconduct, and thus service connection for PTSD cannot be granted. The claims for back disorder, headaches, hearing loss, high blood pressure, and nasal disorder are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and service connection for diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded due to the need for an in-person or video conference Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and VA healthcare facilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that the January 2009 VA examination was inadequate and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity and etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his claims. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was rated at 20 percent disabling, while radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity were each rated at 20 percent disabling as of June 11, 2010.