Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including paranoid schizophrenia and a hearing loss condition, did not render him unemployable prior to May 5, 2005. The Board found that the disability alone was not severe enough to prevent substantial gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or financial assistance in acquiring an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.

The Board has granted service connection for hyperacusis, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to in-service acoustic trauma. Bilateral hearing loss is not found to be related to service.

The Board found that the reduction from a 10% rating to a zero percent rating for bilateral high frequency hearing loss was proper. The Veteran's claim of restoring his disability rating is moot due to the October 2006 increase to a 30% rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that exposure to noise during service is related to these conditions. The claim for PTSD was denied due to insufficient evidence of a combat-related stressor.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence on file for determining whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service, including incidents of acoustic trauma or physical head trauma. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA audiologist's opinion on the relationship between his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence. The appellant's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The Board found that the Veteran's current right elbow condition and lumbar spine condition are less likely related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed bilateral eye disability, COPD, chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, including a review by the Under Secretary for Benefits regarding exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran will also need to be afforded VA examinations to assess his tinnitus and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are of service origin, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability has been granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service-connected malaria and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and a corneal scar of the right eye, require him to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, and protect himself from daily environmental hazards.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, with the exception of a denial for bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his right eye disability claim. His other claims were also denied.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma.,The Veteran has a current prostate condition that is at least as likely as not related to his service.