Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence submitted since the April 2007 statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hearing loss did not cause or contribute to his death from Alzheimer's dementia. The Board agreed with this determination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

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

The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, but denied service connection for Bilateral Hearing Loss and Tinnitus as they are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was also denied an increased rating for psoriasis and initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for psoriatic arthritis of the right and left sacroiliac joints.

The Board has granted a 20% evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, the highest rating available under VA regulations. Service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss and the evidence does not show a disease or injury related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims. The Veteran's claims are based on direct service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and right ear tinnitus are more likely than not related to his military service, including exposure to loud noise in boiler rooms. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the examination report, and he may be eligible for a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to determine the relationship between his hearing loss and tinnitus and active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's death was due to polycythemia vera, which is not service-connected. However, the Board finds that the Veteran would have been rated totally disabled for a continuous period of at least 10 years prior to his death if he had filed an informal claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) in January 1988.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service exposure, resulting in a grant of service connection for these conditions.