Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The evidence shows no worse than Level I hearing acuity in the right ear, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and retain substantially gainful employment, as his combined evaluation is 80 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from the Veteran's treatment at the VA HCS in Sioux Falls and Cleveland. The Veteran is seeking service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic skin rash, and a lung condition with scarring and calcification.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to allow for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

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

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied her claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 30 percent rating as of August 28, 2008. Prior to this date, his disability did not warrant any higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder with residuals, but the stomach disorder claim is pending.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete service records and missing VA treatment records from the specified period. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the genitourinary disorder is not service-connected.,PTSD was manifested by occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks prior to May 31, 2007. Since then, it has been severe.

The Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability of either ear as defined in VA law and regulations, and his claimed tinnitus became manifest years after service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure and concluded that the current bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, and peripheral vascular disease are not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reinstate his appeal regarding the reduction of his disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to 0 percent effective June 1, 2007.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and medical records related to the Veteran's hearing loss. The claims for service connection are also being remanded.

The Board has ordered a new VA audiological evaluation to determine the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the audiologist's findings.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no in-service noise exposure documented and the onset of symptoms occurred many years after service. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, depression, and breathing disorder (other than sleep apnea) are granted. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss and left leg disorder.

The Veteran's skin condition involving the left side of his face is currently rated at 80 percent, which is the highest schedular evaluation available under the Diagnostic Codes for scars. The effective date remains March 16, 2008.