Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of current disabilities related to in-service noise exposure.

The Board found no evidence of current disabilities for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, or a lung disorder related to service. The Veteran's claims were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support these claims as they were not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset in service or within one year of service, nor were they caused by his active military service. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The decision found that while the Veteran had current diagnoses of these conditions, there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his military service and any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 40 percent to a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was proper and denied the Veteran's request to restore the original 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active military service, including exposure to loud noise during his time as a tail gunner. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed disabilities as a result of service or secondary to a service-connected disability, and therefore, denied all claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation for active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service from September 1952 to July 1954, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a left foot injury due to inadequate VA examination, failure to obtain certain records, and need for additional evidentiary development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a full readjudication.

The Board denied increased ratings for right ear hearing loss and otitis media with perforation of the right eardrum, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet criteria for a compensable disability rating.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss existed prior to service and did not undergo an increase in severity during service. The claim is denied as there is no evidence of aggravation or a new disability due to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claim of skin disability was not addressed as it had already been previously denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed hearing loss in the right ear did not meet the criteria for service connection due to insufficient evidence of a current disability. The other conditions (GERD and hemorrhoids) were also denied as there was no showing of a current disability.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation, and no change in hearing acuity during service. The examiner opined that his current hearing loss was more likely related to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right elbow injury. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.