Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the appeal for a higher rating or an earlier effective date has been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and denied service connection for actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) are not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the disability ratings assigned in a February 2009 RO rating decision.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinea pedis, and plantar fasciitis. The initial compensable evaluations for recurrent lipomas, multiple lipoma excision scars on the left flank and right elbow, and a left flank scar have also been denied. The Board has not addressed the claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right elbow, right ankle, right shoulder, lower jaw, right foot sural neuropathy, or left foot sural neuropathy as they are considered part of the initial grant of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of his exposure history.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, hypothyroidism, hearing loss, tinnitus, a psychiatric disorder (major depression with polysubstance abuse, in remission), and residuals of low back trauma. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence presented.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral flat feet, finding no current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's 100% rating for bilateral hearing loss to a 40% rating is proper, effective November 1, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a current VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are not due to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hammertoe deformity, right hammertoe deformity, and bilateral pes planus due to issues not being resolved in the May 2007 rating decision. The claim for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is denied as there was no evidence of current disability or nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he asserts are related to a head injury sustained in 1946. The VA will make reasonable efforts to obtain relevant records not in the custody of a Federal agency.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss, as defined for VA purposes, was incurred in service. However, the left ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to a specific hazard. The claim for left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video-conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C. The evidence does not show that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including ischemic heart disease and hypertension, are granted due to exposure to herbicides in the Republic of Vietnam. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his medical records.