Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The evidence of record does not show that the Veteran has a current right ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were granted, with a disability rating of 20% for the cervical spine condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining personnel records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records, clarify treatment from VA and private providers, and provide a new VA examination for psychiatric and bilateral hearing loss/tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and for loss of teeth numbers 10, 11 and 12 were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed as it is part of the increased rating claim.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating for the service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the evaluations for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's currently diagnosed sensorineural hearing loss was not incurred during active duty or within one year of discharge. The evidence did not show continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing his employability based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, meeting the criteria for service connection.,As the Veteran had active service in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam era, he is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents. However, reactive thrombocytosis was not found to be related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Board found no evidence of in-service noise exposure or symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus during service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to a need for additional medical evidence, specifically audiometric test results from his employment at Kennesaw Transportation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left ear disorder, including hearing loss. The Veteran's claim is now pending for further development.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations. The Board finds that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been sufficient by themselves to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background. The Board finds that the criteria for a TDIU, including on an extra-schedular basis, are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension, right ankle injury, bilateral hearing loss, and dermatitis of the left foot, do not render him unemployable due to their combined effect. The VA examiner concluded that he is capable of performing physical or sedentary employment.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.