Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss effective March 25, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether hearing loss and tinnitus played any role in causing or contributing to the cause of death, including whether symptoms of imbalance and vertigo were related to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus effective September 21, 2004. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hiatal hernia with GERD are currently rated at 30 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a compensable level of disability at any point since October 2007. For his tinnitus claim, the case is remanded to obtain a new VA examination to determine if objective or 'clicking' tinnitus is related to service.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 9, 2004 for the award of service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's original claim encompassed both hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's hearing loss and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims were reopened based on new evidence but the conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not begin in service or is related to active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus must be denied as there is no legal basis upon which to award a higher rating. The Veteran's last VA examination for hearing loss was in January 2007, and he has requested a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, prostate problems, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current prostate disability and that his hearing loss was not manifested during service or within one year thereafter.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not due to noise exposure during his active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during military training and duties.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as it was not factually ascertainable prior to November 23, 2005 that the rating criteria had been met.

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

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to herbicide exposure and bilateral hearing loss based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video conference hearing. The claims of right ear hearing loss and tinnitus remain on appeal.