Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids and a bilateral hearing loss disability. The evaluation of PTSD and dysthymic disorder remains unchanged at 10 percent.

The Board determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, as new and material evidence has been received. However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss is not substantiated due to lack of current disability related to service, while the claim for hypertension remains unresolved.

The Board has found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and thus the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and hepatitis are not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for verification of his periods of National Guard and Reserve service, as well as additional medical records. A VA examination is also needed to address the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 60 percent, effective January 23, 2008. His chronic sinusitis has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric results do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondary to his service-connected hearing loss and exposure to high intensity sound. The Board grants service connection for bilateral tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure during his time as an air freight specialist on the flight line.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable under the rating schedule, and no additional compensation is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn for the issue of increased evaluation for service-connected otitis media with bilateral hearing loss. The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% schedular evaluation for rheumatic heart disease, status post aortic valve replacement. Service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted as incurred in service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder, bilateral wrist/hand disability, and left ear hearing loss disability (now bilateral) are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective May 29, 2003. The claim for higher ratings is denied as the evidence does not support an increase in the initial rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer, are sufficient to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection based on his character of discharge during his period of active service from February 26, 1965 to December 16, 1970.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no worse than Level I hearing in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The criteria for an initial compensable evaluation have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus, do not render him unemployable due to his ability to control symptoms in order to maintain employment. The VA examiner found the Veteran's presentation of symptoms exaggerated.