Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, singly or in combination, do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was remanded to obtain a new VA examination due to unreliable test results from previous examinations.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as the evidence did not show that these conditions were related to the appellant's military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on a need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptoms since service, and the current conditions were not shown to be related to an injury, disease, or event of service origin.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred during his active military service and is therefore service-connected.

The veteran's claims for service connection for defective vision, blood in urine, and hypertension were denied. The veteran was also denied increased ratings for bilateral varicose veins, low back strain, right fifth metacarpal fracture, left inguinal herniorraphy, and bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and pes planus (flat feet) were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the reduction of the rating assigned for the veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability from 60 percent to 50 percent, effective July 6, 2006, was proper and a higher rating is not warranted.

The veteran's herpes zoster began in active service and caused a recurrent infection to occur in August 2000.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral ear disability and denied service connection for tinnitus. The veteran was also denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of the evidence and readjudication of the claim.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for severance of service connection for recurrent headaches, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and thoracic spinal cord damage to the RO for further development.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was remanded for a new VA audiological evaluation to determine the current severity of the service-connected disability.

The veteran's lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 was rated as 40% disabling beginning July 22, 2007. The left ear hearing loss was determined to be aggravated by service.