Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the appellant meets the criteria for reimbursement or payment of non-VA ambulance transport costs incurred on April 29, 2009 due to a service-connected condition (bilateral hearing loss) and because no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as his hearing impairment is currently manifested by level V hearing in the right ear and level II hearing in the left ear.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA audiological examination results and clarification of his current period of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected as it shares a common etiology with his service-connected tinnitus and both disabilities are shown to have occurred in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination regarding his back injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, type II diabetes mellitus, and sexual dysfunction) have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 14, 2008. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is denied as there was no prior informal claim or evidence indicating entitlement to this benefit before August 5, 2002.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding it was not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss disability due to inadequate rationale in previous VA examinations and a need for further clarification on whether pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are related to service, specifically noise exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and ensuring all necessary actions are taken.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss as there was no current diagnosis of a hearing disability in accordance with VA standards.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for an increased rating for tinnitus prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's skin conditions of the hands and feet, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss were all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran has chronic left ear infections with left ear hearing loss that are the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service, and right ear hearing loss likely due to noise exposure in service. The Board finds that service connection is warranted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not etiologically linked to service, and denied his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is due to his military service, with noise exposure and aging contributing factors.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus have been denied. The noncompensable ratings assigned to the service-connected conditions are appropriate.