Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and chronic right ear hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions originated during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise trauma. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and for further development before the claim can be adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and clarifying the December 2009 private audiology report.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chloracne and bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the Board found that his complaints were not credible regarding the onset of hearing loss.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that is as likely as not related to his active duty service. The Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, and his claims for increased ratings of residuals of a fracture of the left third metacarpal and service connection for head and back injuries are denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to these issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and his right foot disability remains at a 10 percent rating. The appeals for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that his hearing did not meet VA's definition of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a hearing disability under VA compensation standards. The Board also found that there is insufficient evidence to establish a current sinus condition.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO due to the VLJ who conducted the February 2011 hearing no longer being employed.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability. Service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of the condition during his lifetime.

The Veteran's vertigo, tinnitus, and pharyngeal polyps were not found to be related to service. The hearing loss disability was also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability rating for unstable low back syndrome was denied. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the increase in disability occurred prior to April 13, 2007.