Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are found to be related to noise exposure during active military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increased initial evaluations for service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss and a higher rating for PTSD, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for any increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is related to his service, and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing acuity, measured on three separate occasions, did not warrant any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of diabetes mellitus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the current evaluation of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 7913 accurately reflected the extent of the Veteran's disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and major depression, related to his military service. The claim for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service, normal hearing at separation, and no hearing loss disability within the initial post-service year. The Veteran's hand disorder is not considered to have been incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to December 29, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected left ear hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board found that the current evaluation is appropriate based on the audiometric results provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issue of increased ratings for hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's herniorrhaphy scar was found to be superficial, stable, and did not cause limited motion but was numb and painful. A rating of 10 percent is granted for the Veteran's scar.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a travel board hearing due to his inability to appear at the scheduled date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected right ear hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a worsening of his hearing impairment since the last VA examination in June 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reported in-service stressors are consistent with his service and have been medically related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have also been medically related to his reported in-service stressors, thus granting service connection for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that further development is required to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his service-connected right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as any other relevant factors.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic bilateral hearing loss disability and chronic tinnitus, finding that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, a skin rash, and an anal fissure, polyps, and rectal bleeding. The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and concluded that any current disabilities were less likely related to service.