Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to December 20, 2005 or from December 20, 2005 onwards.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have sciatica, and his right and left shoulder disorders are diagnosed as AC joint arthritis which had onset during service. The Board denied all other claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, as well as an increased rating for his left ankle fracture. The claim for a compensable evaluation for residuals of injury to the left elbow was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for right ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his service connection claims for hearing loss of the right ear and bilateral hip disability, as no new and material evidence was submitted. The rating assigned remains at zero percent.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service. The claim for pulmonary asbestosis was not supported by the evidence and thus denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by level I hearing acuity in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable evaluation. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in rating.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA audiological examination to determine the current severity and effect of his hearing loss on his occupational functioning and daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records from his doctor and a VA audiological examination to determine the etiology of his hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is likely due to middle ear pathology present during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the condition was incurred during active service or is otherwise related to military noise exposure. Service connection for a back disorder remains unresolved as there are no final decisions on this issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is unrelated to his active duty military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by active service and there was no evidence of herbicide exposure. The Veteran's disorders are presumed to be due to his military service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, the highest available rating under VA regulations. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as the disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent. The claim for a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities must be denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to use adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a chronic disability during service. The Board finds that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tinnitus and his hearing loss is not related to service. Therefore, he is denied service connection for both conditions.