Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a service-connected scoliosis of the thoracic spine, a psychiatric disorder including depression, or residuals of a xiphoidectomy. The low back disability, neck disability, respiratory disorder, headache disorder, and bilateral shoulder disability are also denied as not being related to her active service. Tinnitus is also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was made chronically worse during his period of active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service-connected knee disabilities and hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss. The issue of service connection for tinnitus is remanded due to a timely Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current respiratory disability is related to service and whether any tinnitus or left ear hearing loss is related to service. The Veteran's claims of service connection are pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically whether it is at least as likely as not related to service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty service. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep disorder disability and right shoulder disability are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of prostate cancer is granted, with an effective date from August 14, 2008. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia are all denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and laceration of the right ankle with limitation of motion are not service-connected, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for the ankle condition is denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, and the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy, are found to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, an eye disorder, a disability manifested by facial numbness, and a disability manifested by numbness of the legs bilaterally due to lack of evidence establishing current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability and could not establish a link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active duty service. The Board finds that the Veteran's back and bilateral knee conditions are secondary to his service-connected left foot plantar keratosis.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a bone spur in his right foot due to incomplete medical records, lack of an adequate examination report, and need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right, below-the-elbow amputation and bilateral hearing loss, render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board has granted an increased rate of SMC based on this need.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder.