Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not present an exceptional or unusual situation warranting an extraschedular evaluation, and therefore denied a compensable rating on this basis.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and to consider all recent VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus starting in service are not credible, and the examiner should determine if there is at least a 50% probability that these conditions had their clinical onset during service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is at least 90%, but the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms since service. The VA examiners found it less likely than not that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were caused by service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current disability is due to a pre-existing high frequency hearing loss that was aggravated by active service. Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 26, 2010, and beginning on that date were denied. The Board found no evidence of exceptional or unusual circumstances warranting extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA audiological and mental health examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to noise. However, the Veteran's tinnitus was incurred during active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which pre-existed his entry into active military service. The Board has ordered a VA audiometric examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss underwent a clinically significant increase in severity during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled videoconference hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and finds service connection warranted. For his bilateral knee disability, a VA examination is needed to determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a heart disability, deep vein thrombosis of the left leg, pulmonary embolism, and residuals of cold weather injuries to both upper and lower extremities, were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting hearing loss in his right ear did not chronically increase during service, and there is no evidence of a current disability related to his left ear. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing disability during service and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, the VA examiner concluded it was less likely as not caused by or a result of noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to active duty service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss, including whether it had its onset during service or was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with resolution of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current schedular rating adequately reflected the severity of his disabilities.