Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting his claims for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic left ear hearing loss and an initial compensable disability evaluation for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current hearing disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left ear hearing loss. The case must be readjudicated and a new opinion obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to inadequate compliance with the Board's previous directives. The case must be reviewed again, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether his hearing loss had its onset in service or was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have been incurred during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, preventing him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. His combined disability rating is at least 70 percent since November 15, 2002.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has remained constant with respect to the applicable schedular criteria since the October 2007 VA examination, and thus denied an increased rating for his disability. The reduction from a 30 percent rating to a 20 percent rating was also upheld.

The Board has ordered a new VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service as an airplane mechanic.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, and he is now receiving a noncompensable evaluation effective January 27, 2005.

The Board found no relationship between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and active duty service, and denied his claim for service connection. The same was true for his tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and a low back disorder. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service, while his hearing loss and low back disorder are not.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the Board found no nexus between his current hearing loss disability and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The VA audiometric examination in September 2008 showed that the Veteran's hearing was essentially within normal limits bilaterally. However, due to his re-entry into active military service from May 2, 2009 to June 5, 2010, an attempt must be made to obtain all service treatment and administrative records from this period.

The Veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The RO has granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable evaluation, effective July 10, 2006. However, the appeal remains before the Board as the maximum benefit was not permanently assigned.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims due to his withdrawal of the issues concerning increased evaluations for the scar residuals of a splenectomy and recurrent ganglion cyst.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10% since March 15, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not show marked interference with employment or frequent hospitalization due to his disability.