Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. For bilateral hearing loss, there is no evidence showing a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanations provided by the VA audiological opinions regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to service.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the May 2011 decision is not material and does not establish that the Veteran had primary lung cancer or oat cell cancer, thus denying the reopening of his claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone were not of such severity as to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment between January 7, 2010 and March 4, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shingles is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a current diagnosis of shingles, which was related to an in-service chicken pox infection. For his bilateral hearing loss prior to January 5, 2012, the Veteran is awarded a 20% rating; since then, he is awarded a 50% rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and thus, service connection is denied. For his migraine disability claim, the evidence shows no in-service or post-service diagnosis of migraines, and there is insufficient medical nexus to support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant an initial compensable rating, and the issue of increased rating for residuals of shell fragment wounds, head with cognitive and emotional/behavior dysfunction remains pending.

The Board has denied service connection for visual changes, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, fatigue, sinus disorder, gastroenteritis, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shin splints, right shin splints, left heel spurs, right heel spurs, left flat foot, and right flat foot. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable and has remained at that level since the grant of service connection. Following a December 2011 examination, his hearing acuity improved to Level I in both ears.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and asthma have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions during the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA audiology examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed tinnitus is related to his in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability recognized under VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent effective May 19, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports a higher rating for GERD.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no more than Level III in the right ear and Level III in the left ear, resulting in a non-compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any hearing loss and tinnitus that may be present.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the eligibility requirements for a certificate of eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaption grant due to his unsteady balance and coordination issues, which are not severe enough to qualify him under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA's rating schedule. The assigned noncompensable evaluation is deemed adequate as it reflects the severity of the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.