Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing is within normal limits and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The claim for tinnitus was remanded due to conflicting testimony regarding post-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes and denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions within one year after separation from service. The VA examination concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely caused by or the result of military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining National Guard medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability did not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is related to service, including noise exposure. The examiner opined it was less likely than not that the Veteran's hearing loss is due to in-service noise trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical examinations. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete service records. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a disability manifested by numbness and hardness of hands and fingertips are being reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for hearing loss and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's PTSD claim is pending due to the need for verification of stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and a disability manifest by earaches and/or dizziness were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA criteria. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a pre-existing condition aggravated during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from March 20, 2009 has been denied as there is no evidence of an increase in his hearing loss that would warrant a higher rating.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his average hearing thresholds do not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected sensorineural hearing loss of the right ear and mixed hearing loss of the left ear was denied by the Board. The current evaluation remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's PTSD is incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim of bilateral hearing loss was previously denied, but new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim. Service connection for tinnitus is also granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was caused by noise exposure during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective March 10, 2008. The Veteran's right leg condition is secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant and his authorized representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim for an initial rating higher than 20% for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is also denied.