Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset during active service or for many years thereafter, and they are not causally related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was previously denied in November 1992 and again in August 2003. The most recent denial, in August 2007, found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for purposes of establishing service connection. For the period prior to December 7, 2004, and thereafter, the Veteran's anal fistula disability is manifested by no more than slight symptomatology associated with occasional rectal pain and bleeding with bowel movements, and daily rectal bleeding with bowel movements, fecal leakage, and occasional involuntary movements that necessitate wearing pads. The Board finds that the criteria for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent prior to December 7, 2004, and thereafter, in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate development and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to noise exposure during active military service. Service connection for a low back disability was denied as the current condition is not etiologically related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating from June 17, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to evaluate his service-connected gastrointestinal disability. The Veteran also requested a videoconference hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of VA treatment records.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no new and material evidence to reopen it. The RO initially considered and denied this claim in September 1998 due to pre-existing hearing loss not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as they are more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was rated at 20 percent since September 20, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation prior to this date.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability was granted, and he is currently assigned a 10 percent evaluation as of September 26, 2008. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating prior to August 30, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus has been assigned the maximum 10 percent schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260 for the entire initial rating period on appeal. There is no legal basis for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for vision loss and right ear hearing loss. The claims remain denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of such in his STRs or post-service treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran has current residuals of a right leg and knee injury, specifically venous insufficiency and varicose veins related to service. Bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. Tinnitus was also not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable or higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to August 28, 2009, and from August 28, 2009 to the present. Additionally, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities were deemed not of such severity as to preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service.,Diabetes mellitus, type II, is not shown to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.