Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiology examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination. Service connection will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (20%) and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD are being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence regarding the existence of in-service stressors and the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a new VA audiological examination and obtaining SSA records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. However, it denied both claims as there was no evidence of a current disability or any nexus between the claimed conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart problems, including coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and atherosclerotic heart disease, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and ischemic heart disease rated at 100 percent disabling, meet the criteria for special monthly pension at the housebound rate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure in service and granted service connection. The claim for a back disability was denied as there is no evidence of an injury or disease in service, and the current condition is not linked to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic sinus disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, chronic left and right knee disorders, and a chronic skin disorder due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The Veteran's GERD was also not found to be aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to his active service. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hip disability related to his service-connected spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine at L5-S1 with radiculopathy of the left leg, or active service. The Veteran's hearing loss is also not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and depression, as well as his claim for an increased rating for residuals of left foot and ankle fracture were all denied. The Board found that there was no current evidence of a headache disorder or depression, and the VA examination did not discuss the numbness related to the service-connected injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and potentially scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA audiological examination as his hearing loss has continued to deteriorate since the last evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss and back disability due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been. The claim for service connection is denied.