Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including consideration of an extraschedular rating due to his job loss related to hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his service, specifically noise exposure during his time as a jet engine mechanic. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail in the VA examination report regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and the basis of any opinions rendered.

The Board found that the Veteran's service treatment records were negative for complaints, treatment, and diagnoses of hearing loss. The VA examiner opined that the current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cold injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD have been denied as there is no current disability found to be related to military service.

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

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service. The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper notice under Vazquez-Flores v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 37 (2008).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or maintaining employment for which his education and experience would otherwise qualify.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disability, left ankle disorder, and residuals of Achilles tendon repair. The Veteran did not receive a compensable rating for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities, finding no current diagnosis of this condition in the medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected vertigo warrants a 30 percent disability rating, considering his symptoms of recurrent episodes of dizziness and occasional staggering.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and an increased rating for left ear hearing loss. The claim for tinnitus was reopened, but the evidence does not establish a direct link between in-service noise exposure and current tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss of the left ear was denied as there is no legal basis to assign a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinnitus, including separate 10 percent ratings for each ear. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The claims include seeking higher disability ratings for cold injury residuals, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness and unsteadiness, a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and an effective date prior to May 20, 2003 for the grant of a 10 percent evaluation for tinnitus are all denied. The Board found that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service or to a service-connected disorder.