Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his noise exposure during service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely due to noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss disability has not been shown to be present at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and the combined evaluation of his service-connected disabilities remains at 40 percent. The claim for an increased rating for hearing loss was denied, while the higher combined evaluation claim did not meet legal merit.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear is related to exposure to loud noise during service and has been established as a disability for VA purposes. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the reduction of a 60 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss to 40 percent was proper, as evidenced by improved audiometric results. The Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not originate during service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any event that occurred during military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to be directly related to his military service, as evidenced by the presence of a current disability and credible evidence linking it to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension were granted, with a rating of 10 percent each. The claim for bronchial asthma was not addressed as it is separate from the other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes and his headaches are not related to service. As such, he is denied both claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no worse than auditory acuity level I in the right ear and auditory acuity level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss (rated at 50%), hemorrhoids (30%), tinnitus (10%), and scars on his scalp and left eyelid (noncompensable), combine to a total rating of 70%. However, the most probative medical evidence does not indicate these conditions are so severe as to preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, considered alone or in combination, render him unemployable. The case is REMANDED for a VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information from the Dallas Vet Center and SSA.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and is unrelated to service. Therefore, service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss of his left ear is service-connected due to inservice noise exposure, and grants the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is as likely due to noise exposure in service as it is from other factors. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss disability.,Effective from April 19, 2007, service connection was granted for PTSD with a 70% rating and effective TDIU based on PTSD was granted.,The Veteran's only service-connected disability is tinnitus, rated at 10%, which does not prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to acoustic trauma during active service and granted his claim for service connection.