Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin cancer (claimed as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further development. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right inguinal hernia, and heart condition are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and further review of his medical records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for cerebrovascular accident prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board has determined that the issue of entitlement to a TDIU is inextricably intertwined with any questions regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition. The case is therefore being remanded for further development and adjudication.

The Board has found that the evidence is roughly in equipoise as to whether hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied by operation of law as he does not meet the criteria for a current disability. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, traumatic brain injury, and vision disorder are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and the issue is dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was incurred in service due to combat exposure, and granted service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disability is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his audiometric results do not warrant any higher evaluation under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular rating in excess of 30 percent for left eye aphakia was denied, as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to work. The Veteran's combined disability rating is 40 percent and he does not meet the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left ear hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding her pre-service conditions and their progression during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and providing a VA examination to determine if any psychiatric disorder is related to service. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and associated scars are rated at 20 percent, effective June 3, 2002. His bilateral hearing loss is also service-connected but not rated as he has no right ear hearing loss.