Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, including as secondary to service-connected tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a direct relationship between the Veteran's current headache disorder and his military service or any service-connected condition. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service noise exposure and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed by the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have current hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and confirming the Veteran's periods of active service. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his current left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected scars and hearing loss have been granted.,Service connection for tinnitus has also been granted.

The Board has decided that there may be outstanding treatment records and an additional VA audiological examination is needed to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which combined to a 70 percent rating prior to October 24, 2008, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and right ear hearing loss. However, these issues are remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his military service, granting service connection for this condition. The case is now REMANDED to obtain a supplemental medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hearing loss is secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain missing evidence and conduct additional VA examinations for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), headaches (residuals of head injury), low back disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest within one year of his discharge from service and was not shown to be due to acoustical trauma in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a heart condition (claimed as right bundle branch block), and a left wrist disability have been denied. Additionally, his initial rating claims for DDD of the lumbar spine at L3 - 4 and L5 - S1, CTS with residual pain and mild weakness, and TDIU are also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether his current hearing loss disability had its onset in, or was otherwise related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a left ankle sprain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues were not remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is currently manifested by Level I hearing acuity, bilaterally. The Board finds that the current evaluation of noncompensable does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to August 15, 2008.