Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and inadequate VCAA notice. The appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus need further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as for bilateral hearing loss, are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the medical opinion provided weighed against the Veteran's claim. The Veteran's stressor allegations have been verified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability or evidence of in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted as it was first manifested during active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a more current hearing examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) throughout the entire initial rating period. The audiometric testing results have not met the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was aggravated during service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, tinnitus, gastritis, IBS, familial tremors, and lung scarring, all claimed to be due to radiation exposure. The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and effective date for his bilateral hearing loss disability was denied. The initial compensable rating prior to August 24, 2009, and a rating in excess of 20 percent from that date were both denied.

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

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting higher disability evaluations or establishing service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disorder, skin disorder, hypertension, and vertigo. The Board found that there was no evidence of chronic manifestations of these conditions during or within one year after service discharge.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal was timely perfected with respect to his claim for service connection for status-post C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (previously considered as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine).

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service for the left knee, and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of in-service onset or causation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The RO found no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents during his military service, and thus could not grant service connection based on presumptive exposure. Additionally, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to underlying Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a staged rating of 20 percent throughout prior to February 6, 1997, and 40 percent from February 6, 1997 through May 30, 2002.