Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and did not reopen the claim for post-operative residuals, osteochondroma, left femur (claimed as left leg disability).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service noise exposure that could be linked to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss and there is a reasonable basis to attribute such disability to his active military service. The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss is due, at least in part, to noise exposure during service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year post-service, and the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was increased to a noncompensable rating prior to May 8, 2002. From May 8, 2002 to November 20, 2009, the Veteran received a noncompensable rating. After that date, he was assigned a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board found no current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been manifested by hearing acuity no worse than Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear during the rating period. The Board finds that his hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating based on VA disability criteria.

The Veteran's claim for VA compensation benefits has been granted, and he is now receiving full payment from April 19, 1977 to November 1, 2004. However, the AOJ concluded that the Veteran had received a severance pay allowance from his service department of $10,000.00 which was initially withheld from his VA benefits.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and need for a new examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left foot injury and residuals of left leg injury. The claim for nonservice-connected pension is also denied as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disability are not related to his military service, including any noise exposure or back injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current hearing loss, including any relationship to an incident during service when his drill instructor yelled into his left ear.

Your appeal is being remanded to allow you to have a hearing before the Board at your local RO.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and provide the Veteran with an adequate VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records and to schedule him for appropriate examinations to determine the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any current left ear hearing loss, left shoulder disorder, right ankle sprain, or eye disorder. The AOJ will then review the claims file to ensure that all development has been completed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on a schedular basis has been denied. The RO granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable (0%) rating effective July 14, 2008. However, the Board found that there is no basis for a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 60%, which does not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU. The preponderance of evidence demonstrates that the Veteran is not unemployable only by reason of service-connected disabilities, and referral for extraschedular consideration is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his appeal on the issue of increased rating for right knee degenerative arthritis was dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic conditions related to those disabilities.