Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with resolution of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, bilateral otitis externa, and right-sided otitis media. The Veteran will also be scheduled for an additional rating decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations. No further increase in rating is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 5, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches was denied in October 1993 and is now reopened, with new evidence submitted that raises the possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service and no evidence of continuity of symptomatology after discharge. The examiner opined that the current hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be decided on its merits, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of recent treatment records.

The Veteran's case is being remanded to the AOJ for another VA audiological evaluation and consideration of whether referral for extra-schedular evaluation is warranted due to his hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 16, 2010 and beginning March 16, 2010 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating prior to March 16, 2010 or any rating greater than 30 percent since that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatic steatosis, and status-post lyses adhesions secondary to infant pyloromyoplasty are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence. The Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for hepatic steatosis and status-post lyses adhesions are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes during active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there was no new and material evidence presented, and he did not have a current hearing disability related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete evidence and potential treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether his current visual acuity and hearing loss disabilities are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. He is currently rated at 10 percent since November 23, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's missing teeth are not considered compensable under VA compensation laws.