Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's service and his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board finds that further RO action is needed before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records, particularly regarding his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding no nexus between his current hearing loss and military service or any incident thereof.

The Veteran's appeal is for a higher initial rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, currently evaluated as noncompensable. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. Effective March 1, 2006, his schedular rating is at least total.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing impairment and sleep disorder were not related to his period of active service, resulting in a denial of both claims.

The Board denied service connection for chronic right and left ear hearing loss disabilities, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions did not increase in severity during active service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities and their relationship to his service, including verification of dates of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The May 1998 rating decision denied service connection for hearing loss due to the absence of evidence meeting the regulatory definition of a disability. The Veteran's claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was not successful.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need to verify his National Guard service records, particularly those from 1995 to 2001.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for further development, including obtaining employment records and examining the Veteran's hearing loss history.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability and that his tinnitus is not causally related to service. Therefore, both claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, residuals of rib fractures, and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The claim for a higher rating for the right shoulder sprain was also denied.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bilateral hearing loss as there is no new and material evidence presented.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensably disabling prior to February 28, 2009. Effective from that date, the Veteran is entitled to a rating of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Board found that current evidence did not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or stressor events sufficient to establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.