Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as there is no evidence of hearing loss, headaches, or a bilateral leg condition during service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's complaints are not supported by medical evidence and the passage of many years since separation from active duty further weighs against his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, peripheral vestibular disorder (balance), and a left ear drum disorder, all claimed as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a fractured mandible. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions are related to active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of residuals, fracture left fibula with left knee involvement and service connection for right leg disorder as secondary to the service-connected condition were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a stomach disability (to include as secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and bilateral ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities. The Veteran did not have a diagnosed hearing loss or stomach condition that was incurred in service or due to Agent Orange exposure. The ankle, shoulder, and knee disabilities were also not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically his exposure to noise during combat in World War II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and knee disabilities. The decision found that there was no evidence of a chronic disease during service or continuity of symptomatology after service, and thus could not establish service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are so severe that they prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that he warranted a higher evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's stomach ulcers and his active service, and denied both the claim for stomach ulcers and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure sufficient to establish entitlement to service connection for hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to consider his claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it. The Veteran's tinnitus was also found to be incurred during active service.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion to address findings in the service treatment records related to left ear pain and subsequent fever and swelling of the left parotid gland, as well as the Veteran's reports of having hearing loss at the time of a 1959 hearing test.

The Board finds in favor of the Veteran on all three issues: bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's incarceration, and a VA medical professional will be required to review his claims file and provide an opinion regarding whether his current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current evaluations of 0 percent and 10 percent, respectively, are appropriate given the audiometric results.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the current existence of a disability and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the RO, as his hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.