Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disability causing sensitivity secondary to diabetes mellitus, and his petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for refractive error and hyperopia. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, residuals of shrapnel wound to the right hand, and left hip disability are all found to be related to service. However, there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service or within one year post-service, leading to a determination that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, GERD, and short term memory loss incurred during active service.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss to a noncompensable evaluation was proper and denied the request to restore the 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 27, 2009. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating and grants all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The primary residual of his right navicular fracture with tenosynovitis and bone spurs is subjective pain, while pes cavus, plantar fasciitis, sinus tarsi syndrome, and tibial tendonitis are unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart condition, bowel resection, and arthritis of the hands are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent and is considered to be in full accordance with the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent (noncompensable). The RO has not provided a rating in excess of the current noncompensable rating for this condition.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee was granted an increased rating to 10 percent effective April 20, 2006. The Veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent disability rating for his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notice and a need for additional development, including clarification of whether the Veteran desires a videoconference hearing.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for residual scar of a left thumb laceration and tinea unguium of the bilateral toenails, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, anemia, mixed personality disorder (claimed as PTSD), and refractive error of eyes have all been denied. The evidence does not show any current disability that would warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially granted service connection effective August 10, 2005. For the period from August 10, 2005 to March 26, 2008, he had a Numeric Designation of II in the right ear and IV in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran withdrew the appeals for hearing loss, recurrent tinnitus, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, left hip, and left shoulder. Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic obstructive lung disease, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease and menisci tear of the left knee was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left patella chondromalacia and sensorineural hearing loss of the left ear were denied as there is no evidence to support a rating in excess of 20 percent for the knee condition or a higher rating for the hearing loss.