Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, which prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable as a result of his disabilities, given the current rating assigned.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and non-specific urethritis are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the evidence being in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an outstanding VA hearing request. The issues include reopening a claim for service connection and seeking service connection for various conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, bilateral eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, flat feet, and leg cramps are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, right knee disability, deviated septum, and pes planus have been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating, as his audiometric test results do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss did not warrant a compensable evaluation, and denied his claim for service connection of right ear hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss as defined by VA regulation and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, ulcerative colitis (claimed as residual of exposure to Agent Orange), and Type II diabetes mellitus (also claimed as residual of exposure to Agent Orange). The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange.

The Board has ordered a new VA audiological examination due to the appellant's report of worsening hearing acuity. The current evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss disability remains non-compensably disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's stroke was not related to his service-connected residuals of a head injury with chronic headaches and denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all six issues have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records. The Veteran will also be provided with a VA examination to assess the severity of his hearing loss and determine if he is permanently and totally disabled.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence does not establish a causal link between the Veteran's current hearing loss disability and his period of active military service.