Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision regarding his TDIU claim. The case is now pending and will be reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to an increased rating for service-connected right arm disability. The issues were remanded by the Board but not fully adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and further review is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, as he is qualified for sedentary employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of a significant shift in his hearing acuity during his period of service or within the first year thereafter. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was less likely than not related to his inservice noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the RO, and the Board is remanding the case to allow for further development.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, low back disorder, and right leg disability. The Veteran's claim of increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not incurred in service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted it. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered a disability under VA criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the most recent VA examination showing Level II hearing loss in both ears. The RO has determined that a compensable evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by no worse than Level I hearing in each ear, resulting in a non-compensable rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's asthma/bronchitis, tinea pedis, hearing loss, and tinnitus claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining service treatment records, VA examinations, and additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to determine if current hearing loss, tinnitus, or right knee disability are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus for VA purposes, and thus his claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus disability that is etiologically related to service. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. He also seeks a higher initial rating for his ischemic heart disease with coronary artery disease and entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and a skin disorder.,The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertension. The RO has yet to issue a Statement of the Case on this issue, as it pertains to both the effective date assigned for hearing loss and the disability rating assigned for hypertension.,The Veteran seeks higher initial ratings for his ischemic heart disease with coronary artery disease and entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and a skin disorder. The RO has yet to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues, as they are intertwined with the earlier effective date claim for hearing loss.,The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his erectile dysfunction and a skin disorder (psoriasis). He contends that both conditions are related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides. The RO has yet to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues, as they are intertwined with the earlier effective date claim for hearing loss.,The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his skin disorder (psoriasis). He contends that it is related to exposure to herbicides during active duty. The RO has yet to issue a Statement of the Case on this issue, as it is intertwined with the earlier effective date claim for hearing loss.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their request for a hearing and did not allege any specific error of fact or law in the determination being appealed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was found to have manifested within one year of his separation from service, meeting the legal presumption for a current disability. The Board resolved the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran and granted service connection.