Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable under VA regulations, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete development and requests for additional evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims can be fully adjudicated. This includes obtaining VA treatment records and any medical and legal documents pertaining to the Veteran's application for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his active service, including noise exposure.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that is as likely as not related to his active duty service. The Board finds it at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus contributed to his current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran died of respiratory failure due to or as a consequence of cardiac arrest with acute congestive heart failure. The service-connected residuals of cold weather trauma did not cause his death, nor did it render him materially less capable of resisting the effects of other disease or injury primarily causing death.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for hypertension has been withdrawn. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the Veteran's request, and service connection is being reconsidered based on new evidence or circumstances.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to acoustic trauma during military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected disabilities is 80%, which meets the percentage requirements for schedular TDIU. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is individually unemployable due to these conditions alone.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no more than Level IV hearing loss in the right ear and Level I hearing loss in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable disability rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of zero.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6100. The evidence does not support a higher rating as his hearing acuity has remained within the range of noncompensable disability.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU. The Board referred the matter to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with some degree of noise exposure during active duty. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no legal basis for the assignment of a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a heart disorder. The appellant's heart condition is now considered for reopening, but further development is needed regarding his periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA medical examination and reconsideration of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA audiological examination and an opinion on whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service.