Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person and/or being housebound is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran has service-connected PTSD, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and malaria residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right leg disorder, and his claims for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year of separation from service. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been clinically shown to be manifested by no worse than Level VIII hearing in the right ear and Level II hearing in the left ear. The criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and his removal of the right lung is a congenital defect. Therefore, these claims have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities for VA purposes, and there was no competent medical evidence linking any such disabilities to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability evaluations for left ear hearing loss, bilateral epididymitis, and actinic keratosis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD, combined with other service-connected and nonservice-connected conditions, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since September 11, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for an initial noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from February 27, 2007 was granted. The service connection is determined to be direct and no new evidence has been submitted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left hip disability, shortening of the left leg as a residual of left hip replacement, and valvular heart disease and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD. The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the nature of these claims, including whether there was in-service noise exposure related to the hearing loss and a verified stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his period of active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability, as defined by VA regulations, is due to service and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and frostbite residuals, as well as whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to the reliability of the December 2007 audiometric testing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to service connection.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.