Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and a medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss, including whether it is related to service. The appeal will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and considering the history of the disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that his current conditions were not incurred during active duty or training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's seizure disorder is at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is etiologically related to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since August 2006. The most recent VA audiological evaluations in December 2011 showed mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not attributable to service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated therein. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in either ear to be considered a ratable disability by VA standards, thus no current ratable disability to attribute to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically related to service and may not be presumed to have been incurred or aggravated during service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and considering all evidence of record. The claims will be adjudicated in order, with the hearing loss claim being addressed first.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and prostatic hypertrophy. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board found no evidence of a current lung disorder or residuals of heat exhaustion, and denied service connection for these conditions. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was not addressed due to the broadened claim based on multiple diagnoses. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his active duty service. The case is being remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder scar have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, and an initial compensable rating is also not warranted for his service-connected left shoulder scar prior to July 22, 2009 or on and after that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The cervical spine disability claim was remanded to the RO. Other rating claims remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a blood disease, to include porphyria, were denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during or after service that could be linked to the current disabilities.

The Board found no evidence of a heart disability, hearing loss, or dental injury that is related to service. The Veteran's claims were denied.