Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The appellant withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, and right knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or due to being housebound.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and a respiratory disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting SMC by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA audiologic examination.

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

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing impairment for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be related to his period of active military service, including any acoustic trauma therein. The sensorineural hearing loss did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arthritis of the knees, ankles, elbows, and hands, and bilateral hearing loss were all denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to establish service connection for PTSD due to lack of corroborated stressor events. For arthritis, no current diagnosis was provided in the record. For hearing loss, a compensable rating could not be assigned as the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for an exceptional pattern.

The Veteran's chronic eye disability manifested by watering of the eyes is found to be related to his service-connected hyperthyroidism. Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are also found to be related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's failure to cooperate with a VA examination resulted in the denial of his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has never manifested worse than Level V hearing acuity in the right ear or worse than Level X hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a 40 percent disability rating. The Board denied an initial rating higher than 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 26, 2008 for a 30 percent disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the earliest date entitlement arose was not prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral mixed hearing loss is etiologically related to his active service, while tinnitus was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's skin disorder and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosed skin disorder, and his claimed hearing loss was not shown to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not warrant a compensable rating or service connection, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are attributable to in-service acoustic trauma. The appeal is allowed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his time in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service. The claim for low back disability was denied as well due to lack of new and material evidence.