Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his exposure to loud noise during service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiology examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological examination results and private medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and scheduling of a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability that is at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure during combat in Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The issues include rating for bilateral hearing loss, higher initial rating for coronary artery disease, and TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he did not meet the threshold criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, including clarification of whether his preexisting hearing loss worsened during service.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is granted, while his claims for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, varicose veins, residuals of burns on the hands, and leg scars are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is considered to be incurred in service due to noise exposure during his military training and combat service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (residuals of cold injuries and bilateral hearing loss) render him unemployable, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a claim for service connection for a heart condition was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and entitlement to a TDIU, finding that his current hearing loss disability is not etiologically related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, including acoustic trauma during World War II. The claim was denied as there was insufficient evidence linking the hearing loss to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), as well as his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for coronary artery disease due to VA treatment.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied them on the merits. The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service noise exposure and continued symptoms since service are considered credible.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 23, 2011; a rating in excess of 30 percent from that date to May 23, 2012; or a rating in excess of 50 percent thereafter.