Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which may be related to service. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, and a back disability were denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss and neck disability claims. The TDIU claim will be deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for service-connected left ear hearing loss was denied. His valvular heart disease claim was also denied as there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes, as his audiometric test results do not meet the threshold criteria established by 38 C.F.R. § 3.385. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, which was last evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral thigh and hip disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The RO must schedule a VA orthopedic examination and an audiological examination to address these matters.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code. Therefore, his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and review of his worker's compensation claim. The TDIU issue is inextricably intertwined with the increased evaluation for panic disorder, so it must be deferred.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have originated during his period of service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issues regarding hearing loss, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that the current disabilities are more likely related to post-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, with the current disabilities being considered as a result of noise exposure during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have post-service hearing loss as contemplated by VA regulations, and thus service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for which service connection can be granted, including left ear hearing loss, right shoulder impingement syndrome, sinusitis, and a disability manifested by shortness of breath. The evidence fails to establish a nexus between these conditions and her active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete opinions in the VA examination and a change in audiometric data between service entrance and separation.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Hillcrest Medical Center on March 12, 2006 is denied because the evidence does not show that he was in an emergency situation, received prior authorization from VA, or sought post-treatment authorization within 72 hours. The care provided did not meet one of the regulatory conditions for payment under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728 and 38 C.F.R. § 17.120.