Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated as 30 percent disabling effective March 9, 2011. The claim for an increased rating prior to that date remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left thumb injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The right knee disability was granted with certain limitations but no higher ratings are currently assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected as they were caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unreliable examination findings. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of active military service, granting full entitlement in both cases.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not more nearly approximate the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, Type II Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, a bilateral knee disability, and a bilateral eye disability. The decision also addressed his claim for TDIU but did not specify its outcome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent and credible in his report of ringing in his ears during service, experienced continuous symptoms since service discharge, and provided competent and credible testimony regarding exposure to acoustic trauma. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU were denied. The Veteran was not granted service connection for squamous-cell carcinoma of the left foot due to lack of chronicity in service or continuity of symptoms post-service. Service connection for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and nephropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a residual scar status post cystectomy of the scalp, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service exposure. The effective date is not specified as it represents full award.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and residuals of dental trauma, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability in the left ear as defined by VA regulations. The claim for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are as likely due to service noise exposure, resolving any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his service-connected tinnitus has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and other issues.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability in these conditions. The evidence showed no onset of hearing loss or tinnitus during service, and there was no credible continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss disability, which may be related to service. The Veteran will need a supplemental opinion from the November 2008 VA examiner or another clinician.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and further development of his claims, including a new examination for bilateral hearing loss and an opinion on his ability to work given all service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, maxillary sinusitis with vasomotor rhinitis, and tinnitus have been denied as the maximum schedular ratings are already assigned.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and eye disorder due to a lack of evidence showing current disability, as well as insufficient in-service noise exposure.