Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and CABG are still pending, as well as the issue regarding an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 1, 2008 and left ear hearing loss since that date are denied.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The claims of service connection for dorsal nerve entrapment of the right foot and residuals of surgery, dorsal nerve entrapment, left foot are pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim and granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is related to acoustic trauma in service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was not shown to be related to service, and the Board found no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing loss and service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for skin tags and herpes zoster lesions (claimed as a skin disorder) was withdrawn. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have current peripheral neuropathy, and thus cannot establish service connection on a secondary basis to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and issuing a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his claim for service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA audiological examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations and verification of his Reserve service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The case is now being remanded for further evaluation, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation training is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his service connection and increased rating claims, as well as his employment handicap issues. The VR&E Division will also gather information from his last employer regarding his resignation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left shoulder disability, neck disability, and bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 20 percent from December 13, 2007 to October 18, 2009 and increased to 30 percent effective October 19, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating, as his hearing in both ears was consistently at levels I and II.

The Board has granted entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right ankle sprain and a right knee disability, finding that these conditions are related to service. Bilateral hearing loss and the rectal condition (including anal fissures and hemorrhoids) were not found to be incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.