Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypothyroidism. Service connection was also denied for PTSD, IBS, sleep apnea, and a right hand disorder. A right ankle disorder claim is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are denied as there is no evidence to support the assertions of secondary service connection or a direct relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that was caused or aggravated by his service. His pre-existing right ear hearing loss did not undergo an increase in severity during service, and there is no post-service medical evidence of treatment for hearing loss prior to July 2007.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability within one year following service and denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss meets the regulatory thresholds to be considered disabling for VA compensation purposes. The Board also found that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not a symptom associated with his hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include bilateral hearing loss (60%), PTSD (30%), shell fragment wound to the left knee (20%), tinnitus (10%), degenerative changes of the left knee (10%), and varicosities of the left leg (10%), do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to her in-service noise exposure, whether her pre-existing left ear hearing loss was aggravated by her second period of service, and to provide opinions on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left ear disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current hearing loss and tympanomastoidectomy to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board finds that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in the right ear, as the evidence supports a finding of current disability related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss and TDIU. The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, with Level II impairment in the right ear and Level I impairment in the left ear.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated at 10 percent from December 28, 2005 until April 2, 2007 and increased to 40 percent beginning April 3, 2007. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss from February 1, 2008 through November 3, 2009 was denied. For the period beginning November 4, 2009, he is assigned a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during her service in the Gulf War, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not have its origin during his period of active service and is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and reconstructing service medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and assigned an initial rating of 30 percent effective from October 28, 2005. The Veteran's claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was denied. The issue of a compensable rating for diabetic retinopathy with bilateral cataracts is dismissed due to withdrawal.