Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss, finding that a rating in excess of 50 percent is not warranted since April 8, 2009.

The Board determined that the Veteran's second period of military service was not honorable for VA purposes and is a bar to VA benefits. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and development, including obtaining VA treatment records from May 2006 to March 2008 and scheduling a VA medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for panhypopituitarism, and the Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran is seeking special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities. However, a remand is necessary as the VA examinations did not consider whether his medications render him housebound.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of an injury to the coccyx, low sex drive, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a heat injury, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and PTSD. The Board found that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by active service and is unrelated to an injury, disease, or event of active service origin. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by level III hearing acuity in the right ear and level I hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that this level of disability does not warrant an increased rating.

The Board finds that the appellant does not have a current right ear hearing disability, as defined by VA regulations. Therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

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

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's hearing disability rating from 20% to noncompensable was proper, and denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or skin cancer, and there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss should be remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but no supplemental statement of the case was issued. The VA is required to schedule him for a VA examination to determine if his degenerative joint disease of the left knee is related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his puretone thresholds did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board found no evidence to support the appellant's claims for service connection for psychiatric, bilateral foot, right knee, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The appeals were denied as direct service connection was not established.