Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA audiological examination to determine the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records. The Board will arrange for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service, particularly his reported noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied as his disabilities did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 70%, meeting the minimum schedular criteria for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, his service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their severity alone.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service. The case is REMANDED for further action.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not found to be related to his active service and the Board denied entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain the results of the audiological testing conducted at the Gainesville, Florida, VA Medical Center and any other relevant records. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran likely has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are attributable to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining pertinent records from SSA.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal involves the initial rating for bilateral hearing loss and an earlier effective date. The Board has determined that further development is needed, including a VA examination to assess the functional effects of his hearing loss on employment and daily life.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The claim for PTSD was remanded due to insufficient information regarding a verified stressor.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and conducting a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus.