Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under VA's rating schedule.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's increased initial ratings for diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy are also granted.

The Board has determined that the Appellant does not have a current low back disorder or bilateral hearing loss that can be attributed to service, specifically ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA. The Appellant's current conditions are deemed unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not show that he currently exhibits more than a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to an 80% rating, but the Board finds that they do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability or a bladder infection, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension do not warrant compensable ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's hearing acuity is no worse than Level I in both ears, warranting a noncompensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as there are no longer any issues in controversy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of marked interference with employment status or hospitalization due to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding her hearing loss, left arm disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The low threshold standard of McLendon is met in all three cases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of hearing impairment meeting VA criteria or a nexus to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear does not meet VA criteria for a disability. The positive tuberculosis test result is considered a test result and not a disability. Service connection remains pending for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and left hand numbness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2009 VA audiological examination. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including a VA audiological and otological examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and clarifying his claim for 'soft bones'. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disorder, and soft bones will be reconsidered after this additional development.