Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric testing does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's disability rating schedule.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran is currently assigned a 10% rating for tinnitus, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6260.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service. The case is being remanded for a VA audiological evaluation to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service head injury and noise exposure, respectively.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gout, and hypertension as the evidence did not show a relationship to active military service.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are claimed as service-connected conditions. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted, but his claim for a back disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including an audiometric examination and obtaining outstanding VA medical records.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated zero percent disabling, and the claim for a compensable rating has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition and left ankle condition were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 20 percent disability rating for lumbar strain myositis but not higher. His claim for an increased rating for his right knee status post meniscal repair and anterior cruciate ligament rupture, with residual pain was denied. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied. He was denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinnitus and for bilateral, moderate, sensorineural hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and right shoulder disability were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for status post repair of rotator cuff and labral tear and impingement syndrome of the right shoulder but not higher. His claim for hepatitis C was also denied. He was denied a compensable rating for bilateral tinnitus and for bilateral, moderate, sensorineural hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury resulting in current disabilities.

The Veteran's service treatment records did not show hearing loss during service. Despite his assertions of in-service noise exposure, the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains unchanged from the April 2006 decision.

The Board has denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to the lack of evidence of current disabilities. The Veteran's claims for hernia condition and hearing loss are pending as additional development is required.,Service records indicate possible onset of an umbilical hernia during service, but further medical examination is needed to confirm this potential relationship.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss in the right ear and tinnitus. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA). Additionally, a VA examination is required to assess the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss in the left ear and pulmonary lung disease.

The Veteran's service connection claims for obstructive sleep apnea, athlete's foot, bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are all granted.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss or hypertension, and thus the Veteran's claims for service connection are denied.