Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, as it is consistent with his in-service noise exposure. The claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including audiometric and orthopedic examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated and found to warrant a noncompensable rating prior to January 15, 2011, and a 10 percent rating beginning January 15, 2011. The appeal is denied.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for higher rating of prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there is no competent evidence linking the claimed conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board found that his PTSD symptoms warranted a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's death was due to a nonservice-connected condition, but he had a pending claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss at the time of his death. The Board finds that the evidence supports this claim and grants the nonservice-connected burial allowance.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues are whether he should receive a temporary total evaluation due to bilateral hearing loss and if his PTSD warrants a disability rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to exposure to loud noise during service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected gunshot wound residuals and right posterior thigh scar. The initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss are also being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability alone does not render him unemployable, as he is able to perform physical and sedentary employment with the use of appropriate hearing aids.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to noise exposure during his military service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of a hearing loss disability. The tinnitus claim also lacks sufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations and was not caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been objectively shown to be productive of no more than Level I auditory acuity, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The Board therefore denies an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted for any portion of the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after discharge. The claim for residuals of ruptured eardrum, including scarring, was denied due to lack of competent medical evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the VA audiologist finding it as likely as not that these conditions were incurred during his active duty.