Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but the rating assigned is zero percent (noncompensable).

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as consideration of lay evidence.

The Veteran is requesting a revision of the November 29, 1973 decision denying his claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss due to CUE. The case has been remanded and will be scheduled for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local regional office.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss was denied by the Board, as the current noncompensable rating is considered appropriate based on the audiometric findings.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's hearing loss and neuropsychiatric disorder are service-connected, but tinnitus is not. The Board granted the claims for hearing loss and a neuropsychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's combined evaluation for service-connected disabilities is 80 percent from June 20, 2000 to June 10, 2004, and 90 percent from June 11, 2004. The criteria for assignment of an increased combined evaluation are not met.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, including noise exposure. The normal audiometric findings at separation and the long period without complaints of hearing issues support this conclusion.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his PTSD, Leishmaniasis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for PTSD or bilateral hearing loss, as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and the preponderance of the evidence is against a nexus to service. The Veteran's claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hearing loss in the left ear and tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation available for these disabilities.

The Veteran's heart disability, including hypertensive heart disease, was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. Service connection for a left leg disability secondary to the heart disability is denied as there is no competent evidence linking such disability to service.,There is no medical evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability or any link between any incident of service, including claimed acoustic trauma, and the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active duty. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a scalp laceration was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims for service connection related to left ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and chronic ear infections.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left great toe disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.