Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiometric examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no current disability in his left ear and insufficient evidence to connect his right ear hearing loss to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and clarifying the Veteran's preference regarding a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a laceration of the right little finger extensor digitorum longus do not warrant compensable disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, and PTSD are denied as there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent, effective February 18, 2009. The appeal was denied as the criteria for a higher rating were not met prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a final decision on the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder. The RO must attempt to obtain SSA records, provide an addendum VA audiological medical opinion, and schedule a new VA examination for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issue of service connection for foot fungus on the right foot is pending and requires further examination and evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is shown to have been manifested at worst by a Level II hearing acuity in both ears. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not correspond to numeric designations worse than Level VII for the right ear and Level II for the left ear. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not found to meet VA standards, and there is no other post-service medical evidence of record that contains audiometric evaluation. As such, service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are causally related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bladder neck obstruction, as well as his claim for service connection for bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left inguinal herniorrhaphy with left spermatic cord lipoma was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 20, 2009 was granted. His claim for a higher initial rating for chronic sinusitis since October 7, 1996 and his claim for a higher initial rating for residuals of bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax with subsequent right thoracotomy and decortication prior to December 17, 2002 were also granted. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 17, 2002 was denied.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new claims raised by the Veteran and inextricably intertwined with the current appeal.

The Veteran has a current bilateral hearing loss disability that is related to his period of active service, and the Board grants the claim for service connection.