Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be incurred in service, but the claim for inner ear damage is denied as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for PTSD and ulcers, but denied them based on lack of new and material evidence. The claim for hypertension is remanded due to its inextricability with the psychiatric disorder claim.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss disability in December 1955, and the claim of CUE is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for service-connected PTSD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of whether in-service noise exposure caused or aggravated his current bilateral hearing loss will be further evaluated.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was granted. The effective date for the PTSD grant is March 27, 2007 to December 1, 2010.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, which effectively resolves the Veteran's appeal. The claim of entitlement to an increased evaluation for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine is remanded as there remains a justiciable issue regarding the appropriate rating and effective date. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and a higher rating for diabetes mellitus were denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as he does not currently have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression were not incurred or aggravated by military service. Specifically, there was no evidence showing a current disability related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the Veteran did not present any persuasive evidence showing he had disabilities manifested by either tinnitus or depression.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the failure to appear for VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The Board will attempt to obtain any relevant treatment records and provide the Veteran with a new opportunity to substantiate his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart condition. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as there are no legal grounds to assign such a date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and need for aid and attendance due to service-connected conditions. The case must be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is considered to have started during active duty, while his hearing loss was not shown at the time of his July 2009 VA examination but he had previously worked as an accountant with difficulty hearing in large groups.

The Board has granted service connection for L5-S1 disc space narrowing and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, finding that it was aggravated by the Veteran's in-service back injury. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg and neck shrapnel wounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service combat or injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including COPD and bilateral pes planus, do not render him unemployable as his education and occupational experience allow for substantially gainful employment.