Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and fibromyalgia were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.,Service treatment records are negative for complaints, diagnoses, or treatment related to these conditions while on active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating greater than 10 percent under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be manifested by a Roman Numeral Level III hearing loss in both ears prior to April 28, 2005. The RO determined that this level of hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected right shoulder arthritis, left great toe and knee degenerative arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of more than the current assigned disability ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the other issues for further development. The claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and chronic sinus condition are being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease is being remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous audiological evaluation. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss is also being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's appeal was timely filed, and therefore, the claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being considered on their merits. The claim for kidney disease (to include glomerulonephritis) is remanded due to a need for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss disability is granted. Service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is also granted. The other issues are not addressed as they pertain to evaluations and do not involve service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss. The claim of reopening a psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during active service. The left eye disability is not considered a disease incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran's claim for disability benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are believed to be related to his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The VA has not provided an adequate opinion on whether the current hearing loss is due to noise exposure during service, and if so, whether it is aggravated by service-connected tinnitus.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current perforated left eardrum and mixed hearing loss in the left ear were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The Board also granted service connection for both conditions.

The Board determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was aggravated during his second period of active military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and neck condition, including a lack of proper examination reports.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as an evaluation of whether he is unemployable due to service-connected PTSD. The case will be held in abeyance pending further action.