Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, warranting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The issues regarding Meniere's disease with vertigo, keloid scars, and microscopic hematuria were also addressed but are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examination was inadequate and remanded for further action, including a new audiometry evaluation and opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not due to any incident of service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's left hip disorder is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder. The claim for service connection of bilateral hearing loss was reopened and remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, respiratory condition, right knee condition, and skin rash were denied. The claim for heart disease was granted with a rating of unspecified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability for VA compensation purposes related to her hearing loss, corneal scarring from LASIK surgery, osteopenia, left breast fibroadenoma, or heart murmur. Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to military service and grants entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The case is remanded for further examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal regarding his disagreement with the initial evaluations assigned for service-connected depression, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, and degenerative arthritis of the low back. As such, the appeal was dismissed.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims due to missing service treatment records and the Veteran's assertions regarding his tuberculosis.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his claims, including consideration of evidence from 2000 onwards and evaluation under amended regulations pertaining to spinal disabilities.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss prior to September 28, 2009 and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his bilateral hearing loss from that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria or a link to service.

The Board finds that it is as likely as not the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral perforated tympanic membranes, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim for service connection for bilateral perforated tympanic membranes was previously denied in 1980 and no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen it. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more contemporaneous VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete development and need for additional evidence, including personnel records and medical opinions.