Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within the meaning of VA regulations.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service for the claimed conditions, including bilateral knee disability, bilateral shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his military service, with the onset of symptoms during service and continuity since then.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disability, and the Board found that any symptoms experienced during service are not related to his current conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and granted his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has these conditions that began during active service or are related to an incident of service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for recurrent tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of a TDIU is July 6, 2006, as it was factually ascertainable that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected PTSD from this date onward.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected prostate cancer, status-post radiation with erectile dysfunction, prior to June 22, 2012, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to that date.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy, as well as his tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, may not be effective earlier than October 14, 2009. The initial ratings for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and lack of information regarding the onset of his cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the Board found that his disability did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability in service or within one year post-service, and the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is attributed to presbycusis (age-related hearing loss).,There was no medical evidence linking the Veteran's brain tumor to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective October 19, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was incurred in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of right ear hearing loss is remanded to allow for further examination.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, as the previous examination was inadequate for rating purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence received since the last prior adjudication.