Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him bedridden or incapable of attending to personal self-care functions, and thus he is not entitled to special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance rate or at the housebound rate.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he asserts was caused by noise exposure during his military service. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if there is a link between the current hearing disability and in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the appellant does not have hearing loss in either ear that is the result of disease or injury incurred in active military service, but granted service connection for tinnitus as it was incurred during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule the Veteran for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted a 10% initial evaluation for bilateral pes planus. The right ankle disability remains in denial.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the validity of his claim, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current hearing impairment and its relationship to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for otitis media and bilateral hearing loss are denied as there is no evidence of active disease or impairment during the appeal period, and the current disability levels do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and its impact on employment.

The Board has restored the 10 percent rating for service-connected residuals of a left thumb fracture and granted service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's anxiety disorder is not shown to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service records and exposure history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, skin disorder, and peripheral neuropathy were denied. The claim for migraine headache disability was also denied as no current diagnosis of the condition has been established.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated medical records and to schedule the Veteran for an audiological examination to determine if he currently has a hearing disability for VA purposes, and whether any such disability is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable rating since December 4, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a proper VA examination and opinion regarding his in-service noise exposure as a military police officer.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between current conditions and active duty. The Veteran's hearing loss is attributed to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his inservice acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus began during active service and has continued to the present. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a grant of service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right ear hearing loss disability. The Board also finds in favor of granting service connection for tinnitus, finding it originated during active service.

The Board denied all three issues of service connection, finding that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disorder were not related to his military service. The Board also found that any hallux valgus and metatarsus primus varus and left ankle sprain as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability was not established.