Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone would cause him to be unemployable. The appeal is now pending again with the AMC/RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiner noted that the onset of both conditions was unknown.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left ear tinnitus are not service-connected, with no evidence of in-service noise exposure or other causative factors.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by Level II and IV hearing acuity in the right and left ears, respectively. The Board finds that his disability picture does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation from service and concluded that it is unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and increased ratings for his shell fragment wounds, chronic otitis media and mastoiditis of the right ear, and hearing loss of the right ear were denied. The claim for service connection for a neuropsychiatric disorder (to exclude PTSD) was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, as well as compliance with prior Board instructions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, including bipolar disorder, and hearing loss of the right ear are related to his service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and assigned an initial 50 percent rating, which is higher than the originally assigned 30 percent. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by service, and tinnitus was not found to have been incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and an initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as a higher rating for his bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis. The Veteran was not granted any of these benefits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for hearing loss or a schedular evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of current disabilities meeting the criteria for a disability, nor any competent medical opinion linking these conditions to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service and grants this claim. The appeal for tinnitus was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to noise. The Board found no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma or a continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the merits of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of in-service onset or association with active duty. The claim for Rocky Mountain spotted fever was not addressed due to the nature of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a back disorder and found that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also determined that there is no link between the Veteran's current back, cervical spine, or bilateral hearing loss conditions and his military service.