Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board finds that the appellant has current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to his active duty service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, and PTSD are on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn. The Veteran is granted entitlement to specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, but the grant of special home adaptation is dismissed as it conflicts with the eligibility criteria.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely related to his noise exposure during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records, provide VCAA notice, and schedule VA examinations for his neck and bilateral foot disorders. The left ear hearing loss claim will also be readjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left heel disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records, inadequate VA examinations, and the need for further development of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for daily personal needs without regular assistance from others or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment, warranting special monthly compensation based on the need for the aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to noise exposure. The Board found no credible evidence linking his current hearing loss to military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability, evaluated as bilateral hearing loss, has been rated at a noncompensable level prior to March 14, 2013. Since then, it is rated at a 10 percent level. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss does not meet the criteria for exceptional patterns of hearing impairment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as 10 percent disabling since September 29, 2006. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with the effective date set at February 4, 2011. The VA determined that his hearing acuity did not warrant any higher than a zero percent (non-compensable) rating.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing tests at both entry and separation from service. The Board found the opinion of the January 2013 VA examiner to be adequate for adjudication purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, asbestos lung disease, and diabetes mellitus were denied. The RO assigned initial non-compensable evaluations for the first two conditions from September 11, 2009, and a 30 percent evaluation for asbestos lung disease effective September 11, 2009.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability, as his puretone thresholds did not meet the threshold for a finding of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes. Therefore, service connection for this condition was denied.