Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an in-person hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and the Veteran's tinnitus did not develop due to service. Therefore, both claims are denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for tinnitus are being remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during his military service and is not related to his military noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for additional medical opinions. The appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish a current disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, ankle pain, low back pain, and headaches are remanded due to incomplete information regarding active duty periods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing disability in his right ear, and therefore service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are consistent with in-service noise exposure. The issue of a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and sleep apnea. The preponderance of evidence is against a finding that either condition is related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated in active military service. The evidence does not show any complaints, findings, treatment, or diagnosis for these conditions during or immediately after service. The VA audiologist concluded that current hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely related to post-service employment as a machinist.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to noise exposure during active service. The claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and duodenal ulcer are granted, with the rating for hemorrhoids being greater than 10 percent effective October 2, 2002.

The Veteran's service connection for multiple disabilities, including PTSD and hearing loss, was granted effective June 13, 2008. The effective date is based on the receipt of his VA Form 21-526 application in June 2008.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable rating prior to August 1, 2002 and denied his claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent from August 1, 2002 to June 4, 2004 and 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded to allow for further development, including a VA audiological examination and the provision of all relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, a disability of the eyelid, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The Board found no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under the applicable schedular criteria.