Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during active duty service and is granted service connection for this disability.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to additional development being necessary.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronic symptoms during service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were more likely due to post-military causes.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to November 12, 2008 for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the claims were received more than one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service due to combat noise exposure, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is attributable to aggravation of a preexisting left knee disability during service. The hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated in active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing disability for VA purposes and his left hand disorder is not related to military service. The Board also found no evidence of carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault by VA in connection with the Veteran's IV treatment, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to noise exposure during military service. The VA has requested a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability, and his claim was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently demonstrated bilateral hearing loss disability is related to noise exposure during his active service, including periods of active duty for training in the Marine Reserve. As a result, the claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his period of active military service, including acoustic trauma sustained therein as a result of combat noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. His bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, while his neck pain syndrome and degenerative joint disease C4-C6 are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed hearing loss disability, high triglycerides as a chronic disability, gout, sinusitis, or an acquired eye disorder (blurred vision) related to service. The claims were denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right foot plantar wart were denied. The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was rated as zero percent disabling, while his right foot plantar wart remained at a ten percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was increased from noncompensable to 10 percent effective July 14, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted by him, including VA treatment records and lay statements.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his claim to reopen the pes planus service connection was also denied. The Board found that new evidence did not change the outcome of the original decision.