Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assigned a maximum 10 percent rating for his service-connected tinnitus. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased disability rating for his tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's hypertension had its onset in active service. The claim of a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left ear hearing loss. The RO denied this claim in August 2006, and the case has been remanded to determine if there is a relationship between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for proper VCAA notice.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, finding no increase in severity during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus disability is service-connected, as it is related to his in-service noise exposure during combat operations. The bilateral hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cardiovascular disease, currently diagnosed as coronary artery disease, is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him unable to obtain or retain employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including arteriosclerotic heart disease with myocardial infarction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, insomnia, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, headaches, shortness of breath or respiratory disease, circulatory insufficiency of the legs and feet (peripheral vascular disease), bilateral ankle edema, blurry vision, and gout were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including providing a notice letter and scheduling a VA examination to assess his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU effective May 17, 2005.

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

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service. The Veteran's claim for hearing loss is pending, as VA needs to obtain additional personnel records related to his Reserve status.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by normal hearing at both ears upon retirement from active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that his current hearing loss did not manifest during or as a result of his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and candida esophagitis. The decision found that his bilateral hearing loss was not caused or made worse by military service, he does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus, and his candida esophagitis is unrelated to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right pleural cavity with partial resection of ribs eight and nine, as well as his bilateral hearing loss from December 11, 2007 to the present, was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 20 percent is assigned for the gunshot wound condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and did not address his service connection claim for diabetes mellitus, type II.