Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and the Board finds that by extending the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran, his current right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and cervical spine disorder are as likely as not related to active service.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain VA treatment records for hearing loss and to schedule a VA examination. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural flaws in notifying the Veteran of what evidence would be necessary to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination, particularly regarding lung disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination.

Your claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in October 1971. Since you did not appeal this decision, it became final. Your current claim to reopen the issue and grant service connection for bilateral hearing loss was received on February 10, 2005, and an effective date of February 10, 2005, was assigned.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, a respiratory disorder (claimed as sinusitis), and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied as there is no current diagnosis of any such conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and found that a reduction in the rating from 20% to 10% was proper.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to errors in the March 2009 decision regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and right elbow disability were not found to be related to service. The Veteran's PTSD was granted, but the increased rating claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and lesions of the eyes, finding no current disability related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations and issues related to service connection and pension benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral otitis externa, and right-sided otitis media were denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions requiring compensable evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and thus could not establish direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and acoustic trauma experienced after the 1965 audiological examination.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, are granted.