Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including acoustic trauma incurred as a result of serving as a jet mechanic on the flight line for four years. The Veteran's lay assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology were considered.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss that is attributable to his active military service.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a cardiac disorder, a liver disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (depression). The appeal is also granted to reopen his claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back disorders. An effective date of August 9, 2004, was assigned for the grant of nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board denied an increased disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to August 20, 2008 and currently warrants only a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran does not have a right ear hearing disability as defined by VA, and his STRs do not show any evidence of current right ear hearing loss. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, suppurative otitis media, tinnitus, and vertigo) do not render him unemployable as his combined disability rating is only 60 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be incurred in service, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he contends are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a right ankle disability, and a bilateral shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have these conditions due to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and a higher evaluation for tinnitus was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

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

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds that Alzheimer's disease did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle disability, and his hearing loss of the left ear and tinnitus are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions were denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, but denied it on the merits. The evidence received since the last final denial does not relate to a new or material issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be service-connected. Tinnitus, hypertension, and disability of the eyes are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during service or are otherwise unrelated to his active service. As a result, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD has been withdrawn. The Board also remanded the issues of increased ratings for asthmatic bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, and hemorrhoids for further development.