Hearing loss decisions — 2010

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no objective evidence of complaints, findings, treatment or diagnosis for these conditions during or after service. The Board found that the Veteran did not consistently claim a continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

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

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an additional VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for PTSD has been denied. The noncompensable ratings assigned are maintained.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiological examination to determine the current severity and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran failed to report for the examination, but provided good cause.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not shown to have been manifested by worse than level IV hearing loss in the right ear and level VII hearing loss in the left ear for the period beginning on April 29, 2008. Therefore, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are as likely as not attributable to his period of active military service, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.