Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and the Board finds that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability did not have onset during active service, was not caused by active service, and did not manifest within one year of separation from active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not related to service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year after service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran is entitled to TDIU and SMC for the period prior to March 26, 2007 due to service-connected disabilities of residuals of shell fragment wounds of the left hand, hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, and a scar from an exotomectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and other orthopedic conditions, are found to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment. The Board grants a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, nor are they related to his military service.,Specifically, the Veteran did not have any complaints or treatment for these conditions during service. His current hearing difficulties began after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA compensation purposes and has awarded a 10 percent evaluation for hammer toe of the right middle toe, effective from September 1997.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess his PTSD and bilateral hearing loss. The TDIU claim is also part of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating under the applicable VA rating criteria. The evidence shows that his hearing acuity is no worse than Level III in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his service, including combat exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence does not support an increase in the current noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that his current level of disability does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's request to withdraw the issue of service connection for hypertension secondary to tinnitus has been granted. The remaining issues have not yet been decided.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in either case.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but not for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his military occupational specialty (MOS) and a determination regarding the probability of exposure to hazardous noise during service. The claims file will be returned to the June 2010 examiner for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to include obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA audiological and psychiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.