Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain all relevant medical records and personnel records, including those from the Veteran's Reserve service. The claim will be reconsidered with consideration of the submitted articles.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private audiometry records and the need for a VA audiology examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is currently before the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's representative has requested a remand for another examination and opinion due to the inconsistency of VA audiometric testing results. The case is being returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable since July 17, 2008. The Board finds that the current evidence does not warrant a higher rating based on his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a current disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service discharge was under other than honorable conditions due to a general court-martial in 1969, and therefore his character of service is a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 13, 2007 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, as the June 2008 VA examination showed an average pure tone threshold of 48.75 decibels in both ears with speech recognition ability of 66% and 70%. The rating has been granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis media. The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown during active service or within one year of separation, nor is there evidence linking it to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus was not shown during service but may be related to post-service events. Otitis media has been linked to pre-service employment.

The Board found no evidence of a current right ear hearing loss disability and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus to service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing impairment and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing and further development due to the need for compliance with procedural requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, Ménière's disease, and residuals of eye burns. The evidence submitted since the last denial does not provide a new or material basis to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

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