Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran was not rated as totally disabled at any time prior to his death, and therefore does not meet the minimum requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent since July 17, 2008. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The May 2004 rating decision denying service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus is final. New evidence received since then does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board found no evidence of a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted with an effective date of December 5, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for eczematoid dermatitis and service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for either disability, as there was no credible evidence linking them to active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hemorrhoids and left ear hearing loss, but granted a compensable rating of 10% for his service-connected left varicocele.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely than not related to in-service noise exposure, as he had normal hearing upon service discharge. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss in the right ear and granted a noncompensable evaluation for postoperative left ankle fracture. The Veteran's hearing loss claim was not supported by competent medical evidence, while his ankle fracture is characterized by slight limitation of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss of his left ear was incurred during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) in August 1955, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing acuity is not worse than Level I in either ear, which warrants a 0 percent rating. Therefore, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected asbestosis, coupled with his other conditions and work experience, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disability, and the Board found his assertions regarding continuity of symptoms not credible.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, finding that it was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of bilateral plantar warts, folliculitis, and seborrhoeic dermatitis were denied. The claim for sinusitis with frontal headaches was granted. Claims for cervical spine disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and otitis media are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining pertinent records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and post-operative residuals of right ear otitis media.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, with the onset occurring during or shortly after his military service.