Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the severance of this condition was improper. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a statement of the case on his initial rating claim and providing proper VCAA notice regarding his right foot disorder. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The claims for Mônière's disease and labyrinthitis (previously claimed as loss of balance and/or vertigo) and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

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

The Veteran's hearing loss is manifested by an average puretone threshold of 104 decibels in the right ear and 36 decibels in the left ear with speech discrimination unmeasurable in the right ear and 92 percent in the left ear. The RO assigned a disability rating of 10 percent for his hearing loss, which is the highest rating provided by the rating schedule under these facts.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of both ears, but further development is needed before a decision can be made on these issues. The Veteran also needs VA examinations to determine if he currently has PTSD and whether his current mental health condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, trigeminal neuralgia, and right ear hearing loss were denied. The claim for TDIU was dismissed as moot due to a combined 100 percent service-connected rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and need for further evaluation of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The decision on tinnitus is based on direct evidence, while the decision on hearing loss is based on a finding of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, right ear; polycythemia; and a bilateral eye disorder. The decision found that his current right ear hearing loss was not related to service or herbicide exposure, his polycythemia was not incurred in service, and he did not have a compensable bilateral eye disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further examination and assessment of the severity and functional effects of the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a temporary total rating from November 20, 2007 until January 1, 2008. The RO increased the evaluation for PTSD to 70 percent effective January 1, 2008. A compensable rating of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is granted as of January 31, 2007. No new and material evidence was presented to reopen a claim for postoperative residuals of internal and external hemorrhoids and anal skin tags.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a 40 percent evaluation, effective from October 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive examination that addresses the functional effects of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.