Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as it only results in Level IV impairment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left ear vestibular nerve injury with balance disturbance and vertigo, effective from December 1, 2005, was denied as his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability but denied service connection for his right ear hearing loss and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is considered to have been incurred in active service, while his right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of evidence showing onset within one year post-service separation. The left ankle disability has not been established as a current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to noise exposure incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence of record is sufficient to establish entitlement to service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by no more than level II hearing loss in the right ear and level III hearing loss in the left ear, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings have been granted. The Veteran is now service-connected for hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of an eye injury, hypertension (as secondary to sleep apnea), facial reconstruction, obstructive sleep apnea, fractures of the right hand, a fracture of the right wrist, and headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as there is sufficient evidence to support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, with consideration given to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that his current level of hearing impairment does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) due to diabetes mellitus. Service connection was denied for hypertension, ulcers, heart condition, right eye condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the hearing loss and tinnitus claims, leading to their dismissal.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for hearing loss in the left ear has been denied. The Board notes that his current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during service in Vietnam. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.