Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a neck disability, and a left shoulder disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine the existence of current disabilities and their etiology.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. However, the case is being remanded to further develop the underlying merits of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incorrect assessment of the Veteran's hearing test results and a need for further clinical opinion regarding the relationship between his current hearing loss disability and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and chronic left ankle sprain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not causally related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for VA purposes and there was no competent medical evidence linking his hearing loss to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected intervertebral degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and atrophy of the spinal cord.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or a chronic ear disorder, and there is no evidence linking his tinnitus to service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support secondary service connection for recurrent ear infections and vertigo.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of dental trauma and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions regarding dental trauma in service, and concluded that his current hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of hearing impairment that meets the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and his service-connected otitis externa is also rated as zero percent disabling. The Board finds that the current evaluations are appropriate based on the audiometric test results provided.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, specifically noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently has hearing loss related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on their combined rating of 60 percent. The RO denied referral to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, due to lack of evidence showing unemployability.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability of the right ear is related to service, including in-service noise exposure. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new audiological examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty. The case is REMANDED for a VA audiology examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of current right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, and there is insufficient information to determine if his hypertension developed during service or was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were pending at the time of his death, and he had submitted a timely appeal. As such, accrued benefits are granted.