Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, memory loss, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are denied as there is no competent evidence of a current disability related to active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The appeal has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found no evidence of a right hand disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or gastrointestinal disability due to service. Service connection was also not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they are not shown to be related to his active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and thus denied service connection for this condition. The other claims were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, a headache disorder, and basal cell carcinoma. The evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to determine the likelihood of service connection for his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not related to his military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary in regards to the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As such, these issues are REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is related to his in-service neck injury. Hearing loss disability was not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is unrelated to service. Tinnitus is related to the Veteran's service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current hearing loss or tinnitus, and the Veteran's complaints are not shown to be related to his service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus cannot be established.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his bilateral knee disabilities and gout, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in the left ear meeting VA compensation criteria and denied service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's hearing loss is manifested by an average pure tone threshold of 59 decibels in the right ear and 44 decibels in the left ear, resulting in a zero percent disability rating. The Board finds that the schedular evaluation does not reasonably describe the Veteran's disability level and symptomatology.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically to repeated exposure to loud noises during combat in Vietnam. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as to determine if these conditions are related to service. The claims will be readjudicated after the examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service noise exposure or current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board is remanding the claims for higher ratings for left knee disability, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, recurrent ear infections, right ankle disability, and hypertension. The Veteran's service connection claim for PTSD remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as the Veteran does not have a current disability that meets VA compensation criteria. The claim for tinnitus was also denied due to lack of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new audiometry examination to assess the impact of his bilateral hearing loss on his occupational functioning.