Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining information to corroborate alleged in-service stressors and scheduling the Veteran for VA psychiatric and audiology examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and service personnel records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his exposure to noise trauma during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service, and his bilateral hearing loss disability is not shown by the evidence of record. Service connection for low back disability is granted, while service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty. As a result, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes and finds no service connection is warranted. The claim for a skin disorder, to include as due to exposure to herbicides or petroleum products, remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the criteria for a compensable hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, and the Board found no medical nexus between his service and his condition.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service, including any noise exposure or head trauma. The claim for service connection was therefore denied.

The Board denied claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a lumbar spine disorder, a right shoulder disorder, and an ankle disorder. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is about the propriety of reducing his 50% rating for bilateral hearing loss to a 20% rating. The Board has determined that additional development, including an audiometric examination, is needed.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 40 percent prior to October 26, 2009 and a rating higher than 50 percent since that date.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete opinions in the November 2008 examination report.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Dialysis Clinic, Incorporated in March, April and May of 2008 were not covered by VA because prior authorization was not obtained. The services provided were not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by no greater than Level II in the right ear and Level IV in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss that is related to his period of active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, further development is required before adjudicating this claim on its merits. The Board also reopened the claim for service connection for a dental condition, claimed as jaw malalignment, but denied it on the underlying merits due to insufficient medical evidence linking the disability to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against this claim. However, service connection has been granted for tinnitus due to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA compensation examination with an audiologist to determine the etiology and severity of his hearing loss disorder.