Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA audiological examination to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board finds that service connection for tinnitus is granted, as the Veteran's subjective complaints of ringing in his ears are supported by his military occupational specialty and current symptoms. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for vertigo.,His claim of reopening the bilateral hearing loss claim has been reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran died from Acute Myelocytic Leukemia. The Board found that the service-connected conditions did not play a role in his death, but requested an opinion on whether they aggravated the AML.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for an eye disorder and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during active duty. Right ear hearing loss was also found to be related to service, while the left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether any current hearing loss disability and/or tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and respiratory disorder are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss, effective December 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence showing an increase in disability within one year of the receipt of his February 26, 2009 claim. The earliest evidence of an increase in disability is dated September 12, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his right ear, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are likely due to noise exposure during active service. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or by being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss beginning on November 12, 2007.