Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred during service and is not related to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection, as there was no evidence of hearing loss during or immediately after his active duty service and the only competent opinion to address the question of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss was adverse to the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, a back disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or that any are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding no evidence of a worsening in his left ear hearing loss or any new conditions related to his service-connected metallic foreign body. The Veteran's bilateral knee and hip degenerative joint diseases were not found to be secondary to his service-connected condition, and his lumbar spine disease was also not found to be secondary.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, these claims are denied.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the appellant's current hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities and his military service, including noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss of both ears and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated during his active duty service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. For PTSD, a rating of 50 percent prior to April 5, 2005, and greater than 50 percent thereafter has been granted.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities alone. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, concluding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew her claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss during a Travel Board hearing. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records, schedule the Veteran for a VA spine examination, and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case on the claim for an initial compensable evaluation for migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, and his pseudofolliculitis barbae was also rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The right foot condition is pending as there are no findings regarding its onset during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claims are now considered on their merits.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of these claims due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no new and material evidence. The decision also deferred consideration of his claim for tinnitus pending completion of development.