Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, concluding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as Level V in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation. The Board has determined that an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent is warranted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran does not have service-connected hearing loss or tinnitus. The VA examiner found no link between the current conditions and his military service, including exposure to noise.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss disability did not warrant a rating higher than 40 percent, as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, including obtaining a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the sensorineural component of the mixed hearing loss in the left ear is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service in the Army National Guard from October 1951 to October 1965 and from November 1974 to December 1990 should be verified, as this will determine if he had active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty training (INACDUTRA). If ACDUTRA is confirmed, the Board will consider whether his hearing loss disability was incurred during such service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for an ear disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. After review of all submitted evidence, including statements from the Veteran, VA and private medical records, and testimony at a hearing, it is now established that these conditions are etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, warranting service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus and his military service, including noise exposure. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by breathing difficulties that is attributable to active military service. The Board finds the Veteran's allegations of such a disability are not credible.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent prior to November 9, 2011 and 80 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and reopening of previously denied claims were all denied by the Board. The Veteran was granted a rating for tinnitus but not for hearing loss or other conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic rectal cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer or its causes to any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability is remanded due to discrepancies in audiometric test results and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss is granted as service connected, and his obstructive sleep apnea and chronic bronchitis are both found to have at least some portion of their onset in service. The Veteran's increased rating for chronic bronchitis is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for an increased rating for hypertension has also been granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with noise exposure as a primary factor. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.