Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's headaches, arthritis of the spine, and bilateral hearing loss are all found to be related to service. The Board granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss disability were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year post-service. The medical evidence does not support a finding that these disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are denied. The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, but the maximum disability rating is already assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of in-service noise exposure or a chronic disease manifestation within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and a right foot disability are also being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic condition during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his period of active service, and there is no evidence of tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities are being remanded due to the need for further development. The Board will determine whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for left ear hearing loss and the claim to reopen a claim for service connection for blurred vision/refractive error. The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo and headaches, as residuals of a head injury in service, is reopened due to new evidence presented.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability has been remanded for further action.,The Veteran's PTSD rating remains at 70 percent, but his claims for other disabilities are being reviewed.,Service connection for hypertension is secondary to PTSD. The issue of service connection for the left knee and skin condition will be addressed as well.,The Veteran's left knee disability and skin condition need further examination to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's claim for a skin condition (pseudofolliculitis barbae) is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and whether it is related to service.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral hearing loss disability and back condition to the RO in Houston, Texas for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not related to exposure to loud noise in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder pain, right hand pain, and low back pain were denied as there was no current disability. The claim of service connection for a right ankle disability is pending.