Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion to 30 degrees or extension limited to 15 degrees, which would warrant a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. Factors warranting TDIU on an extraschedular basis were also not present.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records, personnel records from his Army Reserves and National Guard service, and a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his heart disability and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer have resulted in daytime voiding interval of three to four times per day, but renal dysfunction and urinary tract infections are not shown. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear does not warrant a compensable rating as his speech discrimination score is at Level I, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation under VA regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before the Board. The case will be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing at the RO level.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that a higher initial rating for this disability is not warranted. The Veteran does not have any other conditions related to cold exposure, and his arthritis of the hands, knees, skin cancer, hypertension, and blood circulation disorder are not related to active service or cold exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities is found to have been incurred during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, and a left lower leg scar. The decision found no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA audiology examination and referring the case to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence supports a link between the Veteran's in-service acoustic trauma and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to loud noise, including from heavy naval guns and machine guns. The criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's cervical myofascial pain syndrome is rated at 50 percent for tension headaches and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of motion. The left ear hearing loss is rated as non-compensable.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and an initial increased evaluation for residuals of left knee injury were denied. The claim for the left knee was remanded by the Court in December 2012, but no further action has been taken.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU due to inadequate examination and lack of compliance with prior remand instructions. The appellant is required to provide information about her husband's work and educational history, as well as an additional VA medical opinion regarding his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional audiometric evaluation results from an August 2011 VA audiology consultation report. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining these records.