Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as his level II hearing loss in one ear and level I hearing loss in the other ear warrants no more than a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's current right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board found no causal relationship between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal of his claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of those appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, jungle rot of both feet (due to Agent Orange exposure), and emphysema were all denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or a link between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss is granted, with the effective date set at January 19, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a link between his current lung disability and service exposure to diesel fumes and acetone while maintaining generators.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since its initial grant in March 2010. The most recent audiometric evaluations have shown mild to moderate hearing impairment, which does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear sensorineural hearing loss is service-connected, but there is no evidence of left ear hearing loss meeting VA disability criteria. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service in Guam and his ischemic heart disease is presumed due to such exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability or dental disorder in service, and the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that any current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his PTSD with generalized anxiety and dysthymia was denied. His current evaluation of 50% is based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss prior to September 12, 2011 and 10 percent therefrom and entitlement to TDIU are also on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and an audiometry examination.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, as the current opinion appears to be based solely on the fact that he had 'normal' hearing at separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to address whether current bilateral hearing loss is related to service and if service-connected tinnitus has caused or aggravated the hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during active service and is granted service connection. However, there is no evidence of hearing loss in either ear for VA purposes during or contemporary to the pendency of the claim, thus denying service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right hip and foot disorders, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, stress incontinence (claimed as bladder disorder), left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Veteran did not provide evidence of a current disability for the claimed hearing loss disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals in September 2014, leaving no issues for the Board to decide.