Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was remanded and is pending. The effective date of service connection for tinnitus has been denied as the earliest date of receipt of an informal claim for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss has been rated as non-compensable throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability did not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture for any portion of the appeal period prior to November 28, 2007, as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes, and there is no credible evidence of a tinnitus disability. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss disability was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown in service or within one year of separation, and current hearing loss is not attributable to military service. The Board denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD from January 27, 2005, to August 15, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his skin disability, right ear hearing loss disability, and service-connected foot and hemorrhoids disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but is remanding the claim for hearing loss due to potential changes in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his combined rating is 70 percent.

The Veteran does not have current left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and the Board finds that her claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for service-connected sinusitis, effective from the date of the November 2007 VA examination. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting an audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with a VA examination for his PTSD, hearing loss, and headaches. The issue of TDIU remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous and thorough VA examination of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were withdrawn. The Board also determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss or hypertension, which are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, except for a left wrist injury. The Veteran's testimony and medical evidence support her claim of having injured her left wrist during active service in 1991. As this is considered direct service connection due to an injury sustained during service, the Board has granted service connection for the left wrist injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service event that is related to the conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.