Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his disability did not warrant a higher rating during the period from December 31, 2004 to July 21, 2009. For the period since July 22, 2009, he is rated at 30%.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral foot condition was not incurred in active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral knee disability, a bilateral hip disability, and a low back disability have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a stomach condition, and peripheral sensory neuropathy of both upper extremities due to lack of current evidence supporting these conditions.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied because there was no evidence of a current disability. As the Veteran did not appeal, the decision became final.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss did not manifest during active service, nor is there evidence to support a finding of service connection for these conditions. The examiner opined that the current hearing loss was unlikely due to military service.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that was caused or aggravated by his service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records are unavailable and remands the case for a new VA examination to determine if his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus may be related to noise exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service. The appeal continues with the issue of an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and irritable bowel syndrome. The Veteran's current hearing loss is considered a disability, but there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or other causation related to his military service. For the stomach condition, the VA examiner did not provide an opinion regarding direct service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his disability picture is adequately contemplated by the applicable diagnostic code and did not warrant an extra-schedular evaluation.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to concerns about the reliability of audiometric test results and the need for a comprehensive medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examinations and further development is required.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied. The Veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, effective September 1, 2004. His tinnitus remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating of his kidney disability and dismissed the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA audiological evaluation to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his period of service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic lumbosacral strain as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The only competent opinion addressing these issues is against the Veteran.

The Veteran is currently assigned a 30 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from January 23, 2006 to October 2, 2007. He was not granted an evaluation in excess of this rating during that period.