Hearing loss decisions — 2012

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation of various disabilities, including hearing loss, back disability, impotence, right shoulder disorder, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, cervical spine/spinal cord condition, upper extremity disorders, and lower extremity disorders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service connected, with noise exposure during active duty as the primary cause.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations at a more convenient location.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to her combined disability rating and other compensations.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and consideration of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A VA examination of the lumbosacral spine will also be scheduled.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and an increased rating for folliculitis of the posterior neck, finding that his pre-existing right ear hearing loss did not worsen during service and that his folliculitis does not meet the criteria for a 10% evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD and dysthymia) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 2, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and right knee arthritis are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The current disabilities were determined to be due to post-service occupational noise exposure for hearing loss and a history of significant occupational noise exposure after service for right knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants a TDIU rating.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hepatitis C, headaches, a low back disability, and a hearing loss disability. Service connection was granted for right leg varicose veins with a 10 percent evaluation effective from November 22, 2006.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results, which consistently showed Level II or IV hearing impairment in both ears.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bladder cancer are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with no indication of a pre-existing condition or any other basis for denying these claims.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to potential issues with the VA examinations provided.