Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's initial noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and finds it at least as likely as not that the initial insult to his hearing mechanism occurred while in service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and an increased evaluation for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria, and the Board finds that his statements are not credible enough to establish present disabilities.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, as his combined rating is 40 percent and does not meet the schedular requirements. The Board finds that the Veteran's unemployability is due to a pre-existing work accident rather than his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to excessive noise exposure during his active military service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current tinnitus is etiologically related to exposure to acoustic trauma in service and grants service connection for this condition. The bilateral hearing loss does not meet VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability meeting VA criteria for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between current hearing disabilities and noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining more recent VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA audiology and PTSD examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete service records and the need for additional examinations. The issues of service connection, reopening claims, and evaluations will be addressed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss began during his active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's benign prostatic hyperplasia with bladder outlet obstruction, status-post transurethral vaporization of the prostate, did not have its onset during active military service and was not incurred in service.,The Board also determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not have its onset during active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating as his puretone thresholds do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's Rating Schedule.

The VA Board found no evidence of residuals from the Veteran's in-service head injury, and thus denied service connection for residuals of TBI.,VA did not find a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus that is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable for the period of appeal, with no worse than Level II hearing acuity in both ears.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and is denied. The claim for higher initial rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.