Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to November 19, 2009 and a greater than 10 percent rating thereafter is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a disability rating in excess of 80 percent for psychomotor epilepsy have been dismissed due to an inadvertent jurisdictional error.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service, including combat in Vietnam. The claim is therefore granted.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and obtaining treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including VA examinations and medical opinions, to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and whether they warrant compensable ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinusitis is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition. The issues of bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and multiple sclerosis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current level of hearing impairment meets VA criteria for a disability, but his tinnitus was not shown during service or related to noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his current Level I hearing in both ears is consistent with the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO will also determine if extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted his claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for kidney disorder and service connection for hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss with right tympanoplasty was denied as his hearing acuity did not warrant such an evaluation based on the applicable rating criteria. The case is also referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation due to exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to noise exposure during his military service. However, there was no evidence linking his current vertigo to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, finding the Veteran's current conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss to his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.