Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiological and ENT examination.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression and anxiety is being remanded as there may be an underlying service-connected condition that could affect his mental health. The right foot disability claim is also being remanded, with a request for in-patient clinical records from Fort Carson.,The Veteran's left foot disability claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development including in-patient clinical records and psychiatric examination.,The Veteran's right foot disability claim is being remanded as it may be related to his pre-existing left foot disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to service, while his tinnitus is not. Bilateral hearing loss is granted as a result of noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus can be decided.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin or worsen during active service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. His anxiety/depression disorder has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves disagreement with the initial rating assigned following the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board has requested further examination and development to determine if a higher rating is warranted, including on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right knee condition, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as 10 percent for the period beginning August 13, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since June 2005. The most recent VA examination in March 2008 showed unchanged hearing levels from the previous year, with predominantly moderate to severe high frequency sensorineural hearing loss in both ears.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no schedular basis upon which to award more than a single, 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was also denied due to the maximum schedular rating being assigned.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent evidence linking his current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to have been incurred during service, and his claim for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a proper VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Board determined that his current hearing loss is at least as likely as not due to noise exposure during his active duty in the Virginia Air National Guard.