Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher evaluation is not available.,The Veteran did not incur bilateral hearing loss during or as a result of service. His lay assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology are not credible.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to TDIU and denied claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and coronary artery disease. The partial grant includes a compensable disability rating for a burn scar of the right thigh and initial increased ratings for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and coronary artery disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development of his hearing loss claims, including obtaining reports of puretone threshold averages from April 2011 and February 2013 audiograms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left carpal tunnel syndrome and a skin disorder of the left side of the face and scalp are granted as they are presumed due to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is granted for a disability of the right thumb and wrist, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, amblyopia, and deformed toes. The spleen rupture claim secondary to a service-connected skin lesion of the foot is also granted.,The effective date for the increased rating of 10 percent for the service-connected skin lesion of the plantar aspect of the left foot is set at January 12, 2007.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and reopening of a previously denied claim were all denied as the current evaluations are deemed adequate.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's hearing loss is not shown to be related to military noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ear hearing loss and a left hand disability. The evidence did not meet the criteria to establish current disabilities for VA purposes.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his claim for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy. The remaining issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for left ear hearing loss, PTSD with secondary depressive disorder and alcohol dependence, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable under the VA rating schedule, and no higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from October 6 to October 9, 2009 at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center were for emergency treatment due to a significant injury and could not be safely transferred to a VA facility until his condition stabilized on October 9, 2009.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The examiner should consider the April 1978, February 1980, and October 1983 service audiological tests and discuss whether noise exposure in service caused or contributed to current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiology evaluation to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran must be given an opportunity to report for this examination or provide notice that he did not receive it.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing before a member of the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the June 2011 VA audiologist regarding whether the November 2009 private examiner used the Maryland CNC or compatible test at the time of the examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his acquired psychiatric disability.