Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and inpatient treatment records from the Naval Hospital on Parris Island. The case will also be adjudicated again after these developments.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA audiological examination to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with no evidence of pre-service conditions or aggravation. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence received since the June 2004 rating decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating either claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disorder was aggravated by injury during Active Duty for Training (ADT), and his bilateral hearing loss may be service-connected. The case is remanded to determine a specific effective date.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and military service. An additional VA examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his service in the Naval Reserve, which is considered direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or a lump on the left rib cage that is attributable to his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical nexus between current hearing loss or tinnitus and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The claims for diabetes mellitus and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were reopened due to new evidence but no specific rating or effective date was assigned as they are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a hearing before a Veterans' Law Judge.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the threshold requirements for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his combined rating of 60 percent. However, the Board found that there is no evidence demonstrating he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial compensable disability rating for service-connected hearing loss of the left ear.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to acoustic trauma during active duty. However, his eye disorder was not found to be related to either his service-connected diabetes mellitus or his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the criteria for an effective date prior to March 29, 2001, for service connection of tinnitus have not been met.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and gastrointestinal disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The effective date of his PTSD service connection is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left ankle fracture, right ankle injury, herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA audiologist to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including his right ear tympanic membrane perforation and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn by his representative.