Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including malaria, a respiratory disorder, a cervical spine disorder, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, right and left eye disorders, fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal pain, bilateral knee disorders, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with numeric designations of Level I in both ears. The VA examiner found that the Veteran experiences difficulty hearing conversations but can still perform household chores and operate an automobile safely.

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and squamous cell carcinoma of the left true vocal cord, both conditions presumed to be related to his military service.,The Veteran's current hearing loss is linked to his inservice noise exposure, while his larynx cancer is linked to his Vietnam-era herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss, as defined by VA standards. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are service-connected based on direct evidence, with no presumption or secondary connection. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that hearing loss of the left ear did not originate during service or for many years thereafter and is not related to any event that occurred during military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, prostate cancer residuals, tinnitus, right knee strain, and hearing loss, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss. The claim for increased rating of left fibula with degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination by an ENT physician at a VA medical facility.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his left ear hearing loss and PTSD claims was granted, with the PTSD claim receiving a 50% evaluation effective from January 30, 2009 to March 12, 2009. The right ear hearing loss and tinnitus claims are not addressed in this decision.

The VA audiological evaluations have consistently shown that the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss is manifested by no worse than Level XI hearing impairment, which corresponds to a 10 percent disability rating. The claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, bilateral knee disability, and low back disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The claim of secondary service connection for these disabilities is also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records pertaining to his hearing loss since May 2009. The claim will be reconsidered with the additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and determined that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The service connection claims remain pending.

The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current hearing loss or CFS, and thus denies these claims. The Veteran's joint pain is not service connected.