Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. He is currently rated at 30 percent from July 18, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to lack of medical evidence and incomplete information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as he claims an increase in severity since his last examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability or medical nexus to his military service.

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

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and right first finger disability due to injury were denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in his needing assistance with many of his activities of daily living, including bathing and dressing his lower extremities. Due to poor balance and ambulation caused by his service-connected knee and ankle disabilities, he requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect himself from hazards such as falling.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and Meniere's disease, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from various locations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, resulting in a denial of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to obtain all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and his left ear hearing loss is unrelated to service. The Board also noted no credible evidence of current tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records from SSA.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered apart from any unrelated conditions, do not render him incapable of obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by a hearing loss corresponding to auditory acuity level I in both ears, per Table VI of the VA schedule. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral inner ear condition with vertigo and bilateral hearing loss, which he claims are related to an incident in 1966 when his eardrums were perforated while working as an ammo sergeant. The Board finds that further development is needed due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a hearing before a Decision Review Officer and issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issues of special monthly compensation based on loss of use, need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate, and service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension.