Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, back injury, tinnitus, tension headaches, and swelling of legs, ankles, and feet. The evidence submitted did not meet the criteria to reopen any previously denied claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have developed due to exposure to noise during service. The evidence did not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not occur in service and is not related to his military service. As a result, he cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the evidence did not indicate marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization due to the Veteran's left ear hearing loss, and thus denied referral for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 50 percent prior to May 2, 2008. Since then, it has been rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, residuals of a skull fracture, and residuals of a right shoulder injury were denied as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the relationship between his hearing loss and cervical spine disability and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran did not have these conditions during service or within one year of separation, and there was no evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues are about service connection for hearing loss and reopening his PTSD claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to obtain his service treatment records from his active duty in Germany, Texas Army National Guard, and Navy Reserve. The VA will attempt to locate these records and provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions began in or were made worse by military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no current disability or in-service disease/injury related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during his military service but does not meet the criteria for VA-compliant hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a ruptured left eardrum and a 10 percent evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disorders prior to April 11, 2008. The evidence did not support findings of interference with employment due to hearing loss or a perforated left tympanic membrane.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service, and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection as there was not a showing of continuity of symptomatology within one year after service. The Board also noted that any current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings, entitlement to TDIU, and entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.,Service connection for hypertension was denied in a March 2002 rating decision. New and material evidence has not been received to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to his active service, and the Board finds that they were likely caused by non-service-connected factors.