Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus, specifically whether they are related to noise exposure during active duty training in the National Guard.

The Veteran's claim for initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent. The claims for reopening service connection for postoperative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left shoulder disorder have also been granted. Service connection for vertigo is denied. The right hip arthritis claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision. The right knee arthritis and right ankle disorders are both rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current hearing problems are related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is currently in a 'unknown' status as it has not been adjudicated yet.,The Veteran's claim of reopening his bilateral hearing loss claim was granted, and he now has service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for higher evaluations for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The current ratings are 10 percent each.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable under the rating schedule, and no higher evaluation is warranted based on the provided evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, granting his claims for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has tinnitus that was incurred during his active military service as a result of exposure to loud noises in service.

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 hearing loss or tinnitus during service or within one year after service. The VA examination did not find a link between current hearing loss and tinnitus and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and concluding that any hearing impairment did not originate in or is otherwise related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and left ear hearing loss. The case will be readjudicated after all available evidence has been considered.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his active service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss can be reasonably attributed to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during or within one year after his service discharge and is not related to his active duty service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, but denied his claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot disorder, and skin disorders (claimed as dermatophytosis).

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure. The claims for PTSD, left leg disability, low back disability, and bilateral hip disability are denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or a link to service.