Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable due to PTSD, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical evidence, including an audiometric examination and opinion. The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be evaluated based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as his hearing acuity was consistently within Level I impairment in both ears.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of in-service stressors or medical nexus to his current conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not demonstrate that his disability warranted a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to a ruptured eardrum during military service. The other claims of service connection are pending.

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

The VA determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right total knee replacement, bilateral hearing loss, and posttraumatic stress disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in his right ear to be considered a disability by VA standards, and therefore the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder (to include PTSD) has been granted. The remaining issues have been dismissed due to withdrawal of appeals.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to reassess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to gunfire while serving as a gunner's mate aboard ship. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disability, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus are not related to his period of service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hemorrhoids.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service. The claims of entitlement to service connection for heart disease and emphysema have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current noncompensable evaluations are appropriate based on the most recent medical evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and low back strain. The decision is based on a finding that the Veteran does not have hearing loss attributable to his military service, and there is no evidence showing that he had low back strain during service or within one year after separation.