Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran seeks a TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The RO has denied the claim, but it is being remanded for further development including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a prior, unadjudicated claim filed before April 28, 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as his current conditions are not shown to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's claims have been interpreted to encompass Meniere's disease, and the Board finds that a VA examination should be conducted to clarify the etiology of this disorder. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are currently pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted. The claim for right ear hearing loss is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not submitted, and the current diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is considered part of the record at the time of the last denial.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability, left shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and certain other disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for nervous stomach/spastic colon, hemorrhoids, ruptured ear drum, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus to his military service, and denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The effective dates for the granted benefits are established.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied by the Board. The denial is based on the current combined evaluation of his service-connected conditions (bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus) not meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable under the VA rating criteria, and the Board finds that there are no exceptional circumstances warranting a higher rating.

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 has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and grants this issue. The hearing loss claim remains pending as a VA examination was ordered.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain and hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from service or were not proximately caused by her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture have been rated at the maximum disability level due to pain, weakness, and limitation of motion without ankylosis. A separate compensable rating for sensory polyneuropathy is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted.,For the period from May 22, 2006 to September 5, 2007, the evaluation of bilateral hearing loss was denied.