Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and compliance with previous remand directives.

The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and allergies are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. Further development is needed, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for this condition is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss on an extra-schedular basis pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.321(b)(1) has been denied as his disability picture is not exceptional and does not meet the criteria for an extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his military service, including active duty for training and inactive duty for training. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current disabilities did not have their onset in or are etiologically linked to his service.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as Level II in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IHD, which was granted effective December 21, 2010, is being granted with a higher rating of 60 percent since that date. The effective date for the grant of service connection for IHD has been changed from December 21, 2010 to March 9, 2009.

The Board found no evidence of a significant threshold shift in hearing during service, and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and residuals of low back injury. The claim of service connection for right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private audiology records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains at noncompensable due to the current level of his hearing impairment, which is equivalent to Level I in both ears.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The VA examinations conducted did not support a finding that these conditions were caused by noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss as a result of noise exposure during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no competent medical evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including consideration of in-service noise exposure. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The RO also denied service connection for tinnitus, finding no evidence of such condition during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, arthritis of multiple joints, a respiratory disability, and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability (asbestosis, COPD, emphysema) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is being remanded due to the need for additional development.