Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his auditory acuity did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a compensable degree of hearing loss within one year post-service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding noise exposure in service and outstanding medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for an etiological opinion regarding his detached retina and hearing loss, as well as issues related to his diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability or tinnitus in his left ear, and there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his Alzheimer's dementia, which is a nonservice-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his low back disorder, lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The effective dates are not specified as the ratings were assigned based on service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including loss of teeth, sinus condition, vision problems, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), tinnitus, skin disability, and residuals of a left knee injury were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a left knee disorder due to disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bronchitis, as well as his requests for increased evaluations for GERD and right knee disability. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, rash in the legs and groin, and chronic fatigue syndrome have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or service connection for these conditions.,There are conflicting statements regarding the onset dates of symptoms such as tinnitus and rash in the legs and groin.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a lung disorder due to asbestos exposure, and a bilateral leg condition (deep vein thrombosis and thrombophelitis). The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran does not currently suffer from bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, or gout and did not have these conditions during any time period on appeal.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss and because he has filed a notice of disagreement with the denial of service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been granted. The Veteran has a principal diagnosis of PTSD from VA, which is reasonably attributable to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for vertigo and an inner ear disorder, as well as the reopening of claims for bilateral hearing loss and a right shoulder disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and further examination is required.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronicity of symptoms within one year post-service. The VA examiner concluded that it was less likely than not that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were related to service.