Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the current conditions are related to noise exposure during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and myopic astigmatism, finding no current disability in either condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a right ear condition and also denied his request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to unsuccessful attempts to contact the Veteran for a VA examination, and the claim is pending further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a diagnosis of hearing loss during service. The VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not that the Veteran's hearing loss occurred due to acoustic trauma, while the private audiologist opined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were more likely caused by his in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision concluded that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, as well as service connection for a cardiovascular disability to include high blood pressure and heart condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent since June 30, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinus infections, tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, digestive problems, prostate cancer, skin disorder, and spots on the lung have all been granted. The Board also addressed claims concerning prostate cancer, a skin disorder, and a spot on the lung as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the Veteran's claim based on his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including eye disability, COPD, gastrointestinal disability, and hearing loss. The Veteran is asked to provide information about his medical history and treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded to obtain VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left shin disorders, and a circulatory disorder of the lower extremities were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or underlying disease/injury that can be linked to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensably disabling under Diagnostic Code 6100, and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition. However, the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his current hearing loss disability was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is currently assigned a 50 percent rating effective from July 26, 2010. The VA audiological evaluations conducted during the appeal period showed consistent levels of hearing impairment.