Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The case is now pending further development.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 16, 2008 was denied. For the period beginning on and after December 16, 2008, an increased rating beyond 10% is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure. The claim for service connection for tinnitus remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a link between active military service or any other condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and Adult Still's Disease require further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling VA examinations. The claim for brucella was withdrawn by the Veteran during his video conference hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and bilateral hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an anxiety condition (claimed as secondary to hearing loss), and PTSD. The evidence did not show a nexus between any of these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that this rating is not adequate to reflect his current level of disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg condition, bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision found that while the Veteran was exposed to acoustic trauma during service, his current bilateral hearing loss is not related to this exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for shrapnel wounds to both legs and a higher rating for his left knee disability were denied. His claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted but only retroactively effective from June 18, 2008.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected deformed duodenal bulb with epigastric pain and history of duodenal ulcer, but denied compensation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not caused during his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received since the May 2009 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a lack of competent medical evidence showing that any hearing loss, tinnitus, or knee disability is related to active service. The Veteran's Air National Guard records need to be obtained for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The hearing loss claim was not granted as the evidence did not show a compensable level of disability, while the left knee disorder claim resulted in a noncompensable rating due to lack of actual limitation of motion. The low back disorder claim was also denied as new and material evidence had not been received.

The VA determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria, and the Board finds that his exposure to noise during active duty did not result in these conditions.