Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were granted based on the evidence showing that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and right ear injury, as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person or substantially confined to his home, thus he is denied special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not warrant increased ratings, and TDIU is not warranted based on the current disability picture.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a respiratory disorder, and that weight loss, chronic headaches, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, degenerative disc condition, and tingling of the feet were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or adaptive equipment was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria specified by law.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no evidence of worsening or additional disability beyond that already compensated.

The Board denied service connection for retained foreign bodies, shell fragments, of the chest wall and bilateral hearing loss as there was no credible evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a heart disorder, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there was no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year after discharge, and no competent medical evidence linking them to the Veteran's period of service or any service-connected disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence to support a current diagnosis or a link between his in-service experiences and these conditions.

The veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for right knee disability, left ear hearing loss, and hypertension is remanded to obtain additional evidence. The claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis with a history of sinusitis and migraine headaches are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were granted, while the appeals for an increased rating for hepatitis A and nonservice connected pension benefits were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support an increase in the disability rating.

The claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened, but additional development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of any such disability.

The claim for a schedular increase for bilateral hearing loss is remanded to the RO for further development, and an extraschedular rating will be deferred until the claim for a schedular increase is finally adjudicated.

The appeal is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a Travel Board hearing as to the issues of whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. Additionally, the case is remanded for further development regarding the issue of service connection for PTSD.

The claims for service connection for a low back disability and hearing loss are being remanded for further development.

The claim for a higher initial rating for left ear hearing loss is being remanded to the RO via the AMC for further development and adjudication.