Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were granted effective May 7, 2008. The Board found no evidence of prior informal or formal claims filed before this date.

The Veteran meets the percentage standards for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities and is unemployable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema with bronchitis (claimed as a lung disorder) is denied because there is no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and the current condition is not related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss or tinnitus, nor is there any evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

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 finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is likely caused by noise exposure during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not warrant a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice and for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the February 1975 rating decision for chronic bronchitis was denied due to lack of CUE. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence that the current condition is related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and hearing loss disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an eye disorder. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for a hearing loss disability. The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and less likely due to noise exposure, while his hearing loss does not meet VA criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and pseudo malaria.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred during active service and denied his claim. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation, nor could it be presumed due to exposure to noise.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and prostate cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is causally related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.