Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise on whether these conditions are related to noise exposure during active military service.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an audiological examination and etiology opinion.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, prostate condition (chronic urethritis and residuals of urinary tract infection), neck disability, and chronic skin disability (tinea cruris of the groin and lichens simplex chronicus of the lower abdomen). The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary relationship.

The Veteran's appeal for increased PTSD rating and left thigh scars rating has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is granted, but the issue remains pending as new evidence supports reopening a previously denied claim for service connection for a left eye disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his puretone thresholds do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's auditory impairment rating schedule.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and ankle disabilities have been denied. Claims for bilateral hearing loss, hip disability, knee disability, and left shoulder impingement syndrome are pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but the evidence does not establish that his current hearing loss is related to service. The claims for residuals of a left elbow fracture and a left knee disorder have also been reopened, but there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The anosmia is found to be proximately due to service-connected allergic rhinitis. Bilateral hearing loss and otitis media are denied as not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. Service connection for a disorder manifested by loss of mobility is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but his bilateral hearing loss cannot be linked to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service, but has not reached a decision on the right ulnar neuropathy claim due to lack of evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain the Veteran's medical records from the Wichita VAMC.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. Similarly, the Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is also related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records, including post-service audiometric testing from Wright-Patterson AFB in 1980. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right thumb, left ear hearing loss, and left wrist ganglion cyst are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating for hearing loss of the left ear or for left tympanic membrane perforation.