Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, as evidenced by the VA examination findings and the examiner's reasoning.

The Board found no evidence of a causal connection between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his active service, including noise exposure. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus warrant a combined disability evaluation of 60 percent, which is sufficient to meet the criteria for TDIU. The Board finds that the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, including significant in-service noise exposure during basic training and as a tank gunner. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran has a hearing loss disability of the right ear as a result of active service, and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an increased evaluation above 10 percent for hemorrhoids. The case is to be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to active service, including acoustic trauma from arms fire in service. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is therefore granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated audiological testing and speech discrimination results from a private audiologist.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to noise exposure during active duty service, while his bilateral hearing loss is not considered a current disability for VA purposes.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is more likely due to natural aging rather than military noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a hearing and subsequent statement indicating he had received all of his VA benefits.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of any current hearing loss and/or tinnitus, as well as whether service connection should be granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his scar of the head does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and service connection for MRSA and bilateral hearing loss are also denied.,Service connection for MRSA was denied because it was not incurred or aggravated by active service. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding that MRSA is related to the Veteran's service-connected tinea pedis with onychomycosis.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are causally related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability originated during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of right leg numbness, bilateral hip disability, or low back disability due to active service. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including verification of his service and readjudication of the pension claim. The issues of service connection are also pending.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn them.