Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service. Service connection for a psychiatric disability was denied as it is not supported by the evidence of record.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have hearing impairment of the left ear that meets VA compensation criteria. Service connection for hearing loss of the left ear is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate disorder, claimed as groin pain, and an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise, suggesting that the Veteran's tinnitus manifested during or as a result of his active military service. The Veteran is therefore entitled to service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's right ankle disorder is service connected. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's high cholesterol is not a disability for VA compensation purposes and therefore denied service connection. For his hearing loss in the right ear, hypertension, and other issues, additional development is needed as the evidence does not clearly establish whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but the claim was denied as it was not related to active service.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to the unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, and thus does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating such claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected conditions, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, and his cardiovascular disorder may be presumed to have been incurred in service. However, there is no evidence of a current low back disorder or any link between it and service.

The Veteran's post-operative lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability is noncompensable. The Board found that the current evaluations adequately reflect the Veteran's disability picture.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss existed prior to service and was not aggravated during military service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The AMC must obtain and associate any missing treatment records with the appellant's claims file, provide him with a new VA medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities, and then readjudicate the claims.

The Board found that the moving party's discharge was based on desertion, which barred VA benefits. The motion argues that this decision is incorrect due to new evidence showing the discharge was for AWOL.

The Veteran is not obligated to pay the $67,766 disability compensation debt as it was improperly created and invalid.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent, which the Veteran already receives. For bilateral hearing loss, the current 20 percent rating is also the highest allowed under VA guidelines.

The Veteran seeks service connection for right ear hearing loss, which he claims is related to noise exposure during military service. The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence addressing potential causes of his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence linking his current hearing loss to service.