Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be due to hazardous noise exposure during his period of active service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung disorder and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The denial was based on the lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of extraschedular considerations. The case will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is moot as he has been granted a 100% schedular rating and special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s). The appeal of the psychiatric disorder claims is also dismissed as they are encompassed within his now service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with communication and authorization for records, requiring further development before a decision can be made on the increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss disability.

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

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability has been evaluated as non-compensable since the initial grant of service connection. The most recent valid audiometric results show Level I hearing loss, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for medical clarification regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete development of records, including missing VA examination results and treatment records. The Veteran's testimony regarding continuous symptoms since service is also considered.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for left knee disability was granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent. The claimant is seeking an increase in the rating for his service-connected left knee disability prior to April 29, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset during service and is continuously present since then, meeting the criteria for service connection. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal regarding the initial compensable evaluation for an original award of VA compensation for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service, as there was no evidence of a disease or injury in service and symptoms did not manifest until years after separation. The Board concluded that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are presumed to have been incurred as a result of service exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange. The Board finds that the Veteran has current diagnoses for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for right ear hearing loss and an increased rating greater than ten percent for left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the current functional impact of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his exposure to noise during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a right eye disorder, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, skin disorders, and acoustic neuroma, were denied as the evidence did not support a relationship to his military service.