Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage requirements for award of a schedular TDIU, but the weight of the competent, probative evidence indicates that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable, and his lumbar spine disability is rated at the minimum compensable level. The Board finds no higher evaluation is appropriate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to service exposure to noise trauma. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a personal hearing at the RO in Little Rock, Arkansas. The issues of service connection for various conditions are under consideration.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disability, back disability with sciatica, numbness of the right lower extremity, ruptured disc, residuals of a neck injury, and left arm and shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service acoustic trauma or other event, disease, or injury that could be linked to his current hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent or credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 22, 2013 was granted. After that date, he received a 10% disability evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran suffered from these conditions during his active service and continues to suffer from them, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine if he is entitled to increased ratings.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been service-connected and assigned a noncompensable disability rating effective March 13, 2008. No compensable rating is warranted as the condition does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and PVD of the lower extremities, as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder, was granted. The effective date for this grant is set at June 19, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule him for examinations to address the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as well as to determine whether he has ischemic heart disease. The claims are also being remanded to decide his claim for service connection based on exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during service and denied his claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of chronic symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his service, as there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss.