Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss. The Board also denies the claims for increased ratings for PTSD, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing loss disability did not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as she does not have sufficiently severe hearing loss in either ear to be considered a disability by VA standards. The claims for higher initial ratings for her low back disability, migraine headaches, and TMJ dysfunction were also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his periods of Active Duty Reserve (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Reserve (INACDUTRA). He must establish that he was disabled from an injury or disease incurred during these periods in order to be eligible for compensation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of right hip disability is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings was denied. The Board found no current left ear hearing loss disability under VA regulations, thus denying the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely due to noise exposure during his period of active service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination for the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims, as well as to address whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to render him unemployable, and the Board grants his claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to noise exposure during his military service. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as further development is required.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that both conditions are related to in-service acoustic trauma exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and recurrent tinnitus. However, further development is needed as VA's duty to assist has not been fully met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not related to his active service, including exposure to loud noise from aircraft. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, post concussion-acoustic trauma, as there was no evidence of an increase in disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left upper extremity neuropathy, left wrist DJD, and bilateral hearing loss. The initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was confirmed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete development of his private treatment records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with no new evidence presented to reopen the claims. The VA examiners found that the current hearing loss is less likely as not caused by or a result of military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.