Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant an increase in ratings prior to March 5, 2010 and after March 5, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus related to his military service and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is related to a blood transfusion he received as a result of his service-connected PTSD. The issue of bilateral hearing loss disability remains pending and not adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, left ear tinnitus, sinusitis, or right knee disability. The evidence is against finding service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance was denied because it was not filed within the two-year period after service connection for a disability rated at least 10% was granted, and there is no evidence of mental incompetence during that period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, right ear hearing loss disability, and left ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's preexisting hearing loss disabilities were found to have been aggravated by her active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as his hearing impairment is currently rated at 0 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide him with appropriate examinations for his respiratory disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient competent medical evidence on file for VA to make a decision on the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus. The claim for an eye disorder was not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that the evidence received since the September 1994 rating decision does not relate the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss to service, and thus denied reopening of his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review of the Veteran's claims, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining additional medical opinions. The appeal involves multiple issues arising from different rating decisions spanning over two decades.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from the November 2010 VA examiner.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a cervical spine disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain relevant records and to provide the Veteran with VA examinations.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that service connection was already granted and a noncompensable rating assigned.