Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as there is no current disability found.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current back disability, bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD, or sleep problems to service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's service-connected sensorineural hearing loss renders him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an earlier effective date for his tinnitus rating remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records review.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for purposes of establishing service connection, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines. The Board found that his current level of disability does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for nephritis and encephalitis.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and there is no evidence linking any diagnosed condition to service. The claims for scars and bilateral hearing loss were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA audiological examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss or a bilateral foot disorder. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability (degenerative joint disease), and left knee disorder. The decision found that tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated in service and that a left knee disorder was not proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to address the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military noise exposure, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claims for depression, hearing loss, and tinnitus are also addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated during service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hearing loss, ankle disability, right leg disability, and hernia disability.