Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have a direct relationship to his military service, as they first manifested many years after service. The VA expert opinion concluded that these conditions were more likely due to other factors such as hereditary causes or environmental noise exposure over time.

The Veteran's current respiratory disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are not service-connected as they are not related to his military service or any in-service exposure. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed respiratory disability at separation from service and there is no evidence of asbestos exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for gastroenteritis and hearing loss, as well as the issue of an initial compensable evaluation for service-connected right ear disorder to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC).

The Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss that is attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was granted. The current disability rating remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his postoperative prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a grant of TDIU is warranted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were previously denied in February 2006 due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tarsal tunnel syndrome, arthritis of the spine/bone spurs, irritable bowel syndrome, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found that there was no current diagnosis of hearing loss or evidence linking it to service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran currently has right ear hearing loss, which began in service. However, there is no evidence of left ear hearing loss for VA purposes and thus service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for service connection as it is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured ear drum, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical inquiry to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to service, specifically acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 30 percent prior to April 19, 2006 and at 10 percent since then. The Board determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's overall disability rating is 80 percent, meeting the schedular standards for consideration of a TDIU. However, he does not meet the requirement of being unable to secure or follow substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities as he has been employed in managerial positions since at least November 1998 and can still perform some work duties despite his disabilities.

The Veteran's right ear deformity was caused by the July 21, 2003 surgery and is compensable under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20% prior to September 22, 2010. Effective September 22, 2010, the rating for his bilateral hearing loss has been increased to 30%.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may sensorineural hearing loss be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA audiological evaluation, and considering the new evidence received since the most recent supplemental statement of the case.