Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for another VA examination.

The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus to his active service, including noise exposure. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection for hearing loss, foot disability, hypothyroidism, skin disability, sleep apnea, lung disability, and gout. The Veteran withdrew his claim for diabetes.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence indicating it is likely related to noise exposure in service. However, the VA expert concluded that there was no abnormality on the Veteran's discharge audiogram, suggesting his current hearing loss may not be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA audiometric evaluation to assess the current nature and extent of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence linking his current tinnitus to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his military service. The VA examiner found no link between any current disability and military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability prior to May 18, 2010 was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are granted. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise, with no medical evidence indicating that these disabilities are not etiologically related to active service.

The Board found that the May 2001 rating decision did not contain CUE in assigning an effective date of February 13, 2001 for the grant of TDIU. The July 1982, March 1986, November 1988, and July 1996 rating decisions did not contain CUE by failing to grant entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied both claims as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the VA finding that his hearing acuity does not warrant a higher rating based on the current evidence.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a disability within one year of separation from service and that there was no evidence linking his current hearing loss to events during service.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional development and determine whether new evidence has been presented to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as well as other issues related to exposure to Agent Orange and other conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the Veteran's previous claim had been denied due to a lack of competent evidence linking his current hearing loss to his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to service exposure, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and residuals of a low back injury due to lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between service and these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that there is no medical nexus between his current conditions and his military service.