Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The initial rating for hypertension with early nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and due process concerns, including scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's hearing loss and skin disorder claims.

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

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension. The Veteran's coronary artery disease is associated with his diabetes and hypertension, warranting a separate rating. A compensable initial rating of 10% was assigned for hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during or immediately following service. The claim for service connection for these disabilities is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial rating for left pulmonary nodule were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a respiratory disability including bronchitis, bilateral hearing loss, or tinnitus attributable to service. The claim for alcoholic hepatitis was due to alcohol abuse and filed after October 31, 1990. The left pulmonary nodule has not been shown by competent evidence to result in impairment of pulmonary function.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current right leg, left leg, or bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board also determined that there was no evidence of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression due to his service-connected stomach scar.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he has service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ear hearing loss was granted, but the disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on current audiometric test results.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding his tinnitus claim. His hearing loss disability will also be evaluated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, and residuals of skin cancer. The evidence did not establish a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (bilateral hearing loss, asbestosis, and tinnitus) have made him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU benefit.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected as it developed due to in-service noise exposure. Tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated by active service. Service connection for dental problems, for purposes of VA outpatient dental treatment, is denied because the Veteran did not sustain a compensable dental disability during service.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the current level of disability does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability.,Tinnitus was not shown in service or reported until 2007, and the Board finds it not related to service. The appeal for tinnitus is also denied.,Bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis pre-existed service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the Veteran's claim for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for additional medical examination. The appellant's claim for service connection for hearing loss is pending.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for examinations by a gastrointestinal specialist and an audiologist.

The VA determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his hearing impairment was found to be noncompensable based on the current audiometric results.