Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for left ankle, bilateral hand, and bilateral knee disorders were denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions. The Veteran was found to have normal hearing with tinnitus in his left ear, which does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The decision did not address the issue of service connection, as it was addressed in a separate remand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, left varicocele, epididymitis, and ganglion cyst of the left leg. The decision also noted that there was no evidence of current hearing loss disability under VA standards.

The Board has granted service connection for right eye meibomian gland dysfunction, finding that the current condition is related to a stye he experienced during active duty. The skin disorders are presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disorder (presumed due to herbicide exposure) have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and conducting a VA audiological examination. The issues of an initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, assignment of a TDIU, service connection for peripheral edema of the feet bilaterally, and service connection for a bilateral eye disorder (to include conjunctivitis and punctal stenosis) are also being remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other causative factors.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of current anemia, and the Veteran does not have chronic anemia. For his degenerative disc disease, C5-6, with cervical strain, the VA examiner did not find any limitation in motion or other symptoms that would warrant a higher rating. His right ear hearing loss was also rated as 0 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric testing did not reveal worse than Level II hearing in either ear, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the case for further review due to inadequacy of a previous VA examination and need for new opinions based on conceded combat-related noise exposure in service.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension purposes due to multiple disabilities, including knee conditions, depression, tinnitus, hypertension, neuropathy, and arterial disease. The Veteran is found unemployable by reason of his disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was noted on induction and did not permanently increase in severity beyond natural progression during his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, to include as secondary to his service-connected chronic suppurative otitis media with scarred tympanic membrane. The Veteran should be provided notice regarding how to substantiate his claim on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing on his claims of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 70 percent since October 2, 2009. The Board finds that the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent are not met.