Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, periodontal disease, pectus excavatum, and scoliosis have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's current conditions are causally related to his time in service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of L3-L4 spondylitis, finding that the Veteran's current back pain/disability is related to his in-service diagnosis of spondylitis. The claim for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as a nervous condition) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss that is service-connected. The Board found the July 2006 VA examination to be more probative than the April 2006 private physician's opinion, and concluded that there was no causal connection between the Veteran's current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability. The Veteran's claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, but the RO/AMC is required to schedule new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disorder and left leg disorders.

The Board has determined that another VA audiological examination is necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the case is remanded for this purpose.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during active service or within one year after discharge, and are not related to noise exposure during active service. Therefore, entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus will be denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations to assess the nature and extent of his disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not considered to be related to his military service, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is not related to his active service and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was also denied, with the VA examiner stating it is less likely as not related to military noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private providers.

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

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to military service. His current conditions are not presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, Gulf War Syndrome, or other presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since the appeal was initiated. The most recent audiometric testing did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a 10 percent rating for residuals of a fistulotomy, effective November 5, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The Board found no evidence of a current skin disorder related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling since October 29, 2009. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.