Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an SOC regarding the restoration of a 40 percent rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and further consideration of his claim for higher ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability, evaluated as Level VII in the right ear and Level I in the left ear, does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's schedular criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition is causally related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder due to chronic pain is currently rated at 30 percent since July 25, 2008. The other service-connected conditions have their respective ratings as described in the issues section.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that are related to his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, right ear tinnitus, and left ear tinnitus. The Board found that preexisting right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and that right ear tinnitus is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is due, in part, to military noise exposure. The claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss disability is granted.

The Veteran's right ear hearing acuity has not met VA criteria for a finding of disability at any time during the appeal period, and thus his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with symptoms beginning during active duty. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be natural causes, but the VA medical opinion concluded that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The Board found the VA medical opinion more persuasive and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to address his hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was caused by acoustic trauma during active service and is granted. The Board finds that the weight of the credible evidence supports a finding that his current skin disorder (porphyria cutanea tarda) may be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has restored service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and granted entitlement to a TDIU based on the Veteran's PTSD. The Veteran is found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was not diagnosed and there is no evidence linking it to service. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,Regarding diabetes, the Veteran has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes since at least 1995, which predates his separation from service in 1984. There is no evidence linking diabetes to service or any incident therein.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no worse than a Level II impairment of auditory acuity in the right ear and a Level I impairment of auditory acuity in the left ear. The criteria for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss were not met.