Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran meets the threshold requirements for a consideration of a schedular TDIU due to his service-connected prostate cancer residuals, which prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need to account for service exposure and clinical significance of tinnitus in August 1970.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board concluded that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, as it was not shown to be incurred therein or due to a disease or injury in service. The examiner noted no evidence of noise exposure during service and found no nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the current severity of bilateral hearing loss and the nature, extent, onset date, and etiology of any middle ear disorder. The claims will be re-adjudicated after all appropriate actions have been taken.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss in his right ear, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition. The Board also found no evidence linking any other claimed conditions to military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both related to active service, granting his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, including any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records are unavailable and additional development is needed to determine if he had any in-service disabilities or symptoms. The claims will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to noise in the engine room. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss. The claim has been remanded due to inadequate notice regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA audiologist's opinion is insufficient and remands the case for an addendum to the October 2006 VA audiological examination report, which must include a presumption of exposure to acoustic trauma in service and determine whether it is at least as likely as not that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is due to that exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is due to acoustic trauma during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for this condition, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the current hearing loss disability is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards. The Veteran was diagnosed with tinnitus but not hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right eye cataract are at least as likely as not related to his military service.