Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the feet, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD was denied. The Board found that there is no credible evidence supporting these claims.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by his military service, and right ear hearing loss is considered to be due to in-service acoustic trauma. Therefore, both conditions are granted as service connected.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied it on the merits. The RO previously denied this claim in March 1999 and the Veteran did not appeal that decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, multilevel degenerative disc and spinal stenosis L1-L5 with degenerative disc disease, and spinal stenosis of the cervical spine at C6-C7 with degenerative arthritis, have resulted in a combined evaluation of 90 percent. The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was caused or aggravated by his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. However, the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no probative medical evidence linking these disabilities to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for tendonitis of the right wrist and did not assign a rating for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is due to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service. The evidence of record, including VA and private medical records, does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence supports a link to service. The Veteran is entitled to an initial rating of 10 percent for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, and the claim for this condition is granted. The claims for tinnitus, knee disabilities, wrist disabilities, shoulder disabilities, neck disability, and lower back disability are all denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C, as well as his claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of right inguinal hernia repair with scarring. The evidence did not meet the threshold requirements for a disability due to impaired hearing under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss was denied, and his initial evaluation for thoracolumbar spine strain was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations and that his thoracolumbar spine strain did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the appellant's claims for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, foot fungus, and heart disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis related to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the denial of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for hearing loss in his left ear as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and major depression was granted. Service connection is also established for prostatitis with a rating of 50 percent. The decision does not address the issues related to stress or memory loss.