Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his satisfaction with the recent grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and subsequent evaluation of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's current bilateral and right ear hearing loss is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss, as a residual of an in-service head injury. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if the Veteran experienced a head injury during service that resulted in current right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, left ear hearing loss disability, and liver disease (hepatitis C) are reopened. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and requests for a new examination, as well as further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss was denied. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Board has reopened the claim for right ear hearing loss but denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking current hearing loss to military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, hip disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, and type II diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an innocent acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and PTSD), headache disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, allergy, bilateral hearing loss disorder, and eye disorder are all denied as there is no credible evidence of a current disability or continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran specifically denied having hearing problems at the time of her discharge from service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin rash during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, and a bilateral leg disability were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining records related to in-service stressors and exposure to noise, as well as scheduling VA examinations for psychiatric conditions, hearing loss, tinnitus, and rib fractures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for daily personal needs without regular assistance from others or to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of his daily environment, meeting the requirements for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

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

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of his VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and skin disability are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board finds that further development is required with respect to the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to in-service acoustic trauma. The case is REMANDED for additional examination and development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, acting alone, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for 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.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and status post lumbar laminectomy, finding that the Veteran's preexisting back condition did not increase in severity during active duty.