Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The VA determined that the appellant's left ear hearing loss does not warrant a compensable disability rating, as his current hearing impairment is noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is supported by medical evidence, and his history of noise exposure during service supports the contended causal relationship between his tinnitus and in-service events.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Specifically, a VA audiologist will be scheduled to provide an opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran currently has a diagnosed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which is considered a compensable disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as his symptoms of bilateral hearing loss have reportedly worsened.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2008 VA audiological examination, which did not consider the impact of his bilateral hearing loss on his occupational functioning and daily activities. The case will be returned for further review after an additional VA audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, it denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right ear perforation, to include right ear hearing loss, and for a jaw disorder, to include temporomandibular joint disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, hepatitis C, or rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of his hearing loss. The case will be returned to the Board after the rating issue is reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and residuals of open heart surgery. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, left ear hearing loss, and right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss, to include sensorineural hearing loss, that was incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence shows no relevant medical findings indicating a causal relationship between hearing loss and the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically ACDUTRA from October 1965 to April 1966.

The Veteran's lumbar strain was found to have originated during active duty, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The claims for spina bifida occulta and bilateral hearing loss disability are remanded due to the need for further development.