Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in his right ear and a compensable rating for his service-connected hearing loss in his left ear, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or chronicity of symptoms post-service. The Board concluded that any current hearing loss is not related to service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and opinion are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and skin cancer. Additionally, all relevant medical records must be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is more likely than not related to his in-service noise exposure. The low back disability claim remains pending as it involves a remand for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or a link between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and/or INACDUTRA. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of osteoarthritis, chronic respiratory conditions, or bilateral hearing loss related to his military service. Therefore, these claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss attributable to his period of military service and denied entitlement to increased ratings for paresthesia of the right and left lower extremities, as well as a healed fracture of the ulnar, styloid, and navicular bone of the left wrist.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus claims are remanded for additional development as the VA examinations were inadequate. The Veteran also has a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, which he claims is due to acoustic trauma in service. The case is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current hearing loss.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,However, the Veteran's left ear hearing loss has not met VA standards for a disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not due to his exposure to acoustic trauma during active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for bilateral conductive hearing loss disability is not supported by the evidence.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim of service connection for hearing loss, finding that he did not have qualifying military service and thus was ineligible for VA disability benefits.

Service connection for left knee disability and hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between the disabilities and service, or continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for clarification of private audiometric test results and a new VA examination.