Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral retropatellar pain syndrome, initial rating higher than 10 percent for PTSD, and initial compensable rating for kidney stones. The issue of competency for direct receipt of VA compensation benefits was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, left knee, right hip, pulmonary disorder, cardiovascular disorder, and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic onset during active duty or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of broken ribs. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to exposure to acoustic trauma during active service, and the Board grants service connection for these conditions. The other claims on appeal remain unresolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there is no evidence of significant noise exposure during service and both conditions were first diagnosed many years after separation. As a result, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding noise exposure and its relation to hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of in-service injury or disease. The current disabilities were first noted years after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to establish service dates and obtain medical records. The issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for pterygium of the left eye, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the hands, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than April 24, 2006, for service connection of right hand condition and residuals of a right foot shrapnel wound with scar. The decision also dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding entitlement to increased evaluation for sensorineural hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus due to untimely filing of substantive appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in proximity to service. The appellant must provide this evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to reopening a claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss, and the increased rating claim is inextricably intertwined with this issue.

The Board found that bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated during the Veteran's active duty service and is not shown to be attributable to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that there is current disability, symptomatology consistent with the disabilities for some time, and medical evidence at least in equipoise as to whether the current disabilities are related to service noise exposure. The TDIU claim will be readjudicated after a VA examination.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to service, and thus grants his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are related to his service, specifically his combat experiences in Vietnam and noise exposure during his time in the Army National Guard. As a result, the claims for service connection were granted.

The Veteran's service connection for numb fingers was granted. The initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss was increased to 20% effective January 16, 2010.