Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee are being remanded due to incomplete evidence and need further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of bilateral hearing loss, chronic low back pain (L1-L3), and a bilateral ankle disability have been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the right ear hearing loss being granted on a direct basis and the left ear hearing loss being granted based on aggravation. Tinnitus was also found to be incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. His lumbosacral spine disability is rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as incurred due to noise exposure during service. The issue of hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear and tinnitus, as well as a compensable disability evaluation for right ear hearing loss. The evidence did not support the presence of these conditions during or due to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted effective November 17, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence did not establish he was unemployable prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss requires additional development, including a VA examination to determine if he currently has hearing loss and whether it is related to his military service.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing disability is not related to military noise exposure and that there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service grenade explosion and his present condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of all available records.

The Board has granted service connection for left ulnar neuropathy, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was initially rated at 20 percent and later reduced to noncompensable. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support an increased evaluation for the period prior to October 1, 2007.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have a compensable rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss and denied his claim for service connection of left ear hearing loss.

The Board has reopened the appellant's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the case is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a DRO hearing and review of the claims file by VA examiners. The Veteran's appeal is currently in process.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely caused by noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or any other link between active service and these conditions.