Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his bilateral hearing loss and an evaluation of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss related to his military service, and the Board finds that he does not have a kidney disability due to military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for any of the conditions claimed by the Veteran. The Veteran's claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, including a need for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to acoustic trauma incurred during his military service, specifically in combat situations in the Vietnam campaign. As a result, the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further examination and clarification of his current hearing acuity.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the relationship between service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, requiring further clarification from the examiner.

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

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus cannot grant service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. No higher rating is available for these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is likely caused by chronic right hip pain associated with his service-connected post-operative residuals of an excision of a tumor of the right hip with arthritis.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus in service. The VHA consultant concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable prior to April 9, 2007 and as 10 percent since then. The current rating is deemed inadequate.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as obtain any relevant treatment records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions as a result of his service. His claims for service connection are denied.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or related to service, including noise exposure during service. As a result, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during service or as a result of service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities was factually ascertainable as of December 6, 2006. Therefore, an effective date of June 6, 2007 for the TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's schedular evaluation criteria. The appeal is denied.