Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, dermatophytosis, and fibromyalgia were granted with noncompensable initial ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development of his in-service stressors and exposure history, as well as the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise for tinnitus, but denied service connection due to a significant lapse of time between service and post-service medical treatment.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a right hand disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities within the VA definition of hearing loss or a chronic right hand disability after service discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological and dental examinations, as well as any relevant treatment records. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a higher rating for skin cancer-basal cell carcinoma, facial area, and a compensable rating for residuals of excision fibroma tumor with calcification, right mandibular alveolar ridge are being addressed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as the case has been remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied his claim for residuals of a right knee injury. The decision is based on new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran seeks service connection for left ear hearing loss. The VA examination provided an opinion that the hearing loss is not likely related to military service, but a new examination and opinion are needed due to incomplete information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on the current medical evidence.

The Board's decision is vacated due to the need for a new hearing, and the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hearing acuity is manifested by no worse than level VI hearing in the right ear and level VII hearing in the left ear, resulting in a 30 percent disability rating. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant an increase in the assigned evaluation.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is found to be service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and private medical records to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbosacral spine status post surgery are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for Meniere's disease and bilateral hearing loss as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Meniere's disease. Service connection for fibromyalgia is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, but concludes that it is at least as likely as not that these conditions were also caused by other factors such as recreational use of a lawnmower without protection. The decision is therefore mixed, with some issues granted (hearing loss) and others denied (tinnitus).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an addendum to the VA examination report, considering all evidence of record including his reports of military noise exposure.