Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service. The respiratory disorder, including as due to asbestos exposure, is not attributable to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 30 percent prior to June 16, 2009 and in excess of 30 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disability involving hearing loss or other conditions in service or for years following service discharge. The hiatal hernia preexisted service and was aggravated by an inservice injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain additional treatment records from 'Dr. Moretz' and provide new opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's current tinnitus and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for hearing loss and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as 10 percent disabling prior to April 28, 2011 and 30 percent disabling thereafter. The Board found no basis for a higher rating in either period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bronchitis, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (claimed as Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia), or neuropathy. The claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically hearing loss and urinary frequency. The Veteran's assertions of continuity of symptomatology are not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and PTSD have been granted, with a 10% initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and a 50% initial rating for PTSD. The appeal is resolved in favor of the VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further review of his claims, including additional medical evidence and another VA examination. The issues on appeal are related to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints was not incurred in active military service and may not be presumed due to exposure to anthrax. The other issues were denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied from November 23, 1993 to October 21, 2010. Since October 22, 2010, the Veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to adjudication of the claims for hearing loss and disabilities of the right hand, toes, feet, legs, and eyes on the merits.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), stomach growth, residuals of a gall bladder removal, chronic prostate infection (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to Agent Orange exposure).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to an inadequate medical examination, including a need to explain why delayed onset of hearing loss and tinnitus are unlikely related to service.