Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, as there is no evidence of such conditions prior to separation from service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss was more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure and age-related changes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ITP was denied. The Board found no indication of the Veteran having ITP during or within one year after his military service, nor did they find any credible evidence linking it to his military service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine the cause of his hearing loss and tinnitus, including verification of periods of active duty and reserve service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's left arm disability is rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The scars on his thighs and abdomen are evaluated based on their impact on function, not a specific Diagnostic Code.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss disability, an eye disability, a low back disability, and a neck disability have all been denied as there is no competent clinical or credible lay evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disorder were denied as there is no current evidence of a disability meeting the criteria for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous audiometric evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 25, 2002 for awards of service connection for a lumbar disability, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability is also addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for DM was denied by the RO in an August 2009 rating decision. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely due to noise exposure during his military service. The claim of missing lower teeth is denied as it does not meet the criteria for compensation under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to noise exposure during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his claim for service connection for Meniere's syndrome and a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 11, 2007 are not supported by the evidence. His claim for individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear and tinnitus are not related to his service or any incident therein, including noise exposure. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The claim for bilateral pes planus was previously denied due to a lack of new and material evidence, while the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The hearing loss and radiculopathy claims are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for higher initial ratings for left knee and left elbow disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.