Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board found no evidence of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma, while his preexisting bilateral pes planus was not aggravated by active service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's alleged PTSD stressor events and to determine if his left ear hearing loss has worsened since his last examination. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate a potential clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss existed prior to his entry into service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, he is denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The Board found that the current evaluations assigned to his disability are adequate based on the criteria in the Rating Schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome with mitral valve prolapse. The appeals were based on a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Board found no competent or credible evidence linking the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and tinnitus to service, including within one year of discharge. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss or tinnitus disability related to his military service and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including records from his treatment at Barnes Hospital in 1972.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that was caused or aggravated by his service. His claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and determine whether any claimed conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are attributable to service, warranting service connection for both conditions.