Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, but her claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service, and for an opinion on the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA audiological examination and obtaining current VA treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not rated higher than the current levels, with no exceptional circumstances warranting extra-schedular evaluation.

The Veteran's left peroneal nerve palsy with history of left footdrop is rated at 10 percent since September 23, 2006. His hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a clarifying opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal for his claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss, resulting in their dismissal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and scheduling him for an audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inextricably intertwined issues and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of medical opinion linking his current diagnoses to any incident of service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in both ears and neuropathy involving the cardiovascular system, finding that his hearing loss in the left ear was pre-existing and not aggravated by service. The Board also found no evidence of a current disability for hearing loss in the right ear or any other service-connected condition related to the Veteran's claimed neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including noise exposure from aircraft mechanics work. As such, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, thus granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hearing loss and granted a 10 percent evaluation for right ear tinnitus, but denied reopening of the claim for hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was first manifested in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service upper respiratory infections.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and chronic vertigo are related to his active service, including noise exposure during service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities in the right ear and insufficient evidence to establish a link between left ear hearing loss or tinnitus and military noise exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, as his current hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's rating schedule.