Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of whether he is unemployable due to his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for unspecified arthritis and bilateral hearing loss were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus need further development due to missing VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after service. The VA examiner opined that the current disabilities were more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to in-service acoustic trauma, while his low back injury residuals may be related to service. The claim for low back injury residuals is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for lung cancer residuals was pending at the time of his death. His April 2005 pulmonary function test results supported an award of a 60 percent disability rating, which is granted as accrued benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his left ear hearing loss and anxiety are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective May 31, 2006, due to her service-connected disabilities meeting the regulatory requirements for TDIU. Her combined rating at that time was 80 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not related to service, specifically his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma during basic training. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is the result of noise exposure in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after service. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding against these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back pain with history of sciatica, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the latter claim. The decision also concluded that there was no nexus between the current hearing loss or back disorder and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed right knee, left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, warranting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of service connection for the claimed conditions, including bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and residuals of shrapnel wounds to the back and arms. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's military service provided sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his conditions and service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.