Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU being granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reports of in-service noise exposure are consistent with his combat service and credible. The Veteran currently meets all elements required for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his claims file.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and reopening of a previously denied claim for ulcer disease were both denied by the Board. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent, while his previous denial of service connection for ulcer disease remains final.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, with a noncompensable disability rating initially and then increased to 30 percent effective September 16, 2009. The current rating is appropriate based on the audiometric findings from VA examinations conducted in May 2008 and September 2009.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6100 for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that his current level of disability warranted this rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pheochromocytoma and remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for all issues related to service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus was not related to his active military service, and his hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations, records requests, and a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a mental disorder, hearing loss, and recurrent plantar warts on the left foot were denied. The Veteran was not granted an increased rating for his recurrent plantar warts.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities within the meaning of VA regulations. The claim for migraine headaches is pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for alcoholism, and service connection for peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities and is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for viral hepatitis and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence on file.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, and the Board finds that he did not have in-service noise exposure. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.