Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 60 percent prior to September 15, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated at 50 percent since May 14, 1999. The Board found that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of this level.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 6, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and thoracic outlet syndrome, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing disability and concluded that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, but not for other conditions. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, nausea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain, recurring headaches, skin disability, and hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claims are now pending on their merits.

The Board granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PRK with residual dry eye and halo. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed to be related to her active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left thumb sprain is related to his service, and he does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The decision grants service connection for the left thumb sprain but denies service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the etiology of his left thumb disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and denied service connection for residuals of left wrist ganglion cyst removal.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to metastatic pancreatic cancer, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by service and did not result from a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and readjudication of the issue.

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

The RO properly calculated the combined schedular disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities following increases in ratings for individual disabilities by a December 2010 rating decision, and he is not entitled to a higher combined rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service exposure to loud noise, and granted service connection for this condition. However, there was no evidence of right ear hearing loss meeting VA criteria.