Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA audiological examination. The issue of service connection for PTSD will also be addressed in the remand process.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's skin rash claim is withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be established. Service connection for PTSD has been granted but an increased rating remains denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA dental expenses incurred on October 27, 2004 due to lack of pre-authorization and failure to meet the requirements under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, hearing loss, right knee disability, osteoarthritis of the hips, left hand disability, flat feet, and depression. The evidence submitted did not provide a link between these conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination or opinion regarding whether hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected. The veteran is required to provide any additional medical records related to their ear disorders.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, a left shoulder disorder, chronic bronchitis, or a back disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin disability, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, diabetes mellitus, lung disability, right knee disability, gallbladder disability, drug addiction, and cardiovascular disability. The appeals were not addressed on the merits of these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty service, nor could they be presumed to have been incurred in such service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear and right ear hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing right ear hearing loss was aggravated by his active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent for the appellant's PTSD disability, finding that it meets the criteria for such a rating. The lumbar spine disability is also rated at its maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran withdrew his claims, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied all claims.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of current disability level. A new VA compensation examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions during his military service or within one year after discharge. The Veteran did not meet threshold eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of active duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to his naval service and the Board has resolved the doubt in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction, have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service and is not related to active duty. The Board denied the claim as there was no evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluation of headaches, service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, and service connection for sinusitis. The appellant was not granted any benefits.