Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service exposure to small arms fire and aircraft noise, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and insufficient evidence to decide the case. The claim for tinnitus has been granted, but further examination is needed to determine if current hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a neck disability, hearing loss, or prostate cancer that is attributable to his periods of active military service. However, it is as likely as not that the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to herbicide exposure during his period of active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further medical examination.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability for hearing loss, and denied service connection for bilateral astigmatism as it is not a disease or injury within the meaning of applicable legislation. Service connection was granted for tinnitus, sinusitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically linked to his service or any incident therein, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 16, 2005. Service connection for the residuals of cold injury (frozen feet) is granted. Service connection for a back disorder (residuals of spinal meningitis) and knee disorders are also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but his PTSD is granted with a 50% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date determinations were denied. The Board found that the residuals of a fracture of the left olecranon warranted a 20 percent rating, but not higher. Effective dates prior to April 5, 2005, could not be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence on which to base a decision regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an additional VA audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the right ear is service-connected, while his hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus are not. The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is also not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran asserts service connection for a low back disability and other conditions. The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed.,The Veteran asserts service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any hearing loss demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.,The Veteran asserts service connection for gastrointestinal disability (GERD and hiatal hernia). The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any gastrointestinal condition demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.,The Veteran asserts service connection for chronic nasal allergies (sinusitis and/or rhinitis). The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any chronic nasal allergy demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.,The Veteran asserts service connection for pulmonary disability (bronchitis). The Board finds that additional verification of his Reserve service is needed and a new VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology, including aggravation, of any bronchitis demonstrated to have existed either during service or prior to service.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that was caused or aggravated by his service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claims, and thus denies them.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be as likely as not attributable to acoustic trauma in service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be as likely as not attributable to the same etiology as his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation were denied. The claim to reopen for right ear hearing loss disability was reopened, but the underlying de novo issue of service connection was denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and he is currently assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.