Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to in-service acoustic trauma and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss but denied right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0 percent).

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, but he does not have a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss. The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was incurred during his active duty. The claim for a left eye disability is also granted, with evidence showing that the condition may be related to service despite the lack of specific documentation in the records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service, were not manifest to a compensable degree within one year after service, and are not attributable to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining physical examination reports from the Veteran's employment with the City of Dallas and VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied both issues on appeal.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and his rating for bilateral hearing loss was reduced from 20 percent to 0 percent, effective March 1, 2010. The reduction of the rating is upheld.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a compensable rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that his symptoms began during service and have persisted. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Army National Guard treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including migraine headaches, hearing loss, arthritis of various joints, asthma, lower back degenerative disc disease and muscle pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression, allergies and rhinitis, and nerve paralysis, were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's trapezius muscle strain and right ear hearing loss are found to be related to service, warranting the grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are unrelated to his military service, including to acoustic trauma sustained during combat. Therefore, these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity and functional effects of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disorder and denied the remaining claims. The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder was incurred during active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing left ear hearing loss did not increase in severity during her second period of active duty, and thus concluded that she did not have aggravation of a preexisting condition. As such, service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and was not shown to be causally related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied.