Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury and residuals of frostbite of the hands in July 2006. The Veteran's claims are now remanded to reopen these issues.,Right ear hearing loss was denied as not related to service, but the claim is reopened due to new evidence.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to review final denials of service connection for hearing loss and determine if there is evidence sufficient to warrant entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus due to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was first diagnosed many years after service, and the evidence does not support a connection to noise exposure in service. The Board finds no competent evidence of such a relationship.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss corresponds to a 10 percent disability rating since July 25, 2005. The Board found that the evidence does not support an increase in his initial rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis/degenerative discopathy of the lumbar spine and hearing loss, as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, but not for the right ear. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is considered to be caused by acoustic trauma sustained in service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for his right ear hearing loss, which is the maximum evaluation authorized under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including any acoustic trauma he may have experienced.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new C&P examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and recurrent tinnitus are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the appellant's current hearing loss in both ears is related to service, specifically noise exposure during military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the right knee and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a higher rating based on flexion or extension limitations, as well as no evidence of ankylosis, instability, or cartilage involvement. For hearing loss, the VA examinations did not show any exceptional circumstances warranting extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the right ear hearing loss claim, and that left ear hearing loss did not warrant a compensable evaluation. Service connection was also denied for bilateral foot disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, respiratory disability, neurological disability of lower extremities, sarcoma, bladder condition, enlarged prostate, diverticulitis, and psychiatric disorder due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing disability is related to his active military service. The claim for left ear hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a personal hearing before a member of the Board.