Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss have aggravated his Meniere's disease, warranting service connection for the symptoms of Meniere's disease as secondary to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, thus granting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, a respiratory disorder, peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish current diagnoses or show continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The evidence does not show a continuity of symptoms since service separation, nor is there any competent medical opinion linking current hearing loss and tinnitus to incidents during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service and is not related to any in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss pre-existed service and was not permanently worsened during active duty. The claim for tinnitus was also denied as there is no evidence of current disability or a nexus to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is manifested by Level VIII hearing acuity in the right ear and Level V hearing acuity in the left ear, resulting in a 30 percent evaluation. The Board found that an increased rating beyond 30 percent was not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations and service connection, finding that he was already receiving the maximum schedular evaluation for tinnitus and that his PTSD claim lacked legal merit.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus are related to his active duty service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by his military service. The evidence did not establish a current disability for tinnitus, and the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was less likely caused by his military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss disability did not have onset during active service or within one year of separation for active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service from February 1967 to September 1968. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claims for service connection. The Board also noted that tinnitus was not attributable to service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as it was incurred during service.,Right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not granted as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the relationship between his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and perforated ear drum disabilities and service.

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

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to inadequate audiometric results from a September 2007 examination. The RO must arrange for the Veteran to undergo a VA audiological evaluation and provide him with notice as required by Dingess/Hartman v. Nicholson.