Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for lumbago, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a right knee injury. The claim for diabetes mellitus, type II, was granted with an effective date of May 31, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, but no specific rating or effective date was assigned.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service acoustic trauma and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed left eye injury and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a supplemental opinion from the VA physician regarding the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms and the medical evidence does not establish a link between current hearing loss and service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability and finds that his right ear hearing loss is not related to service. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the RO, and a rating of 60 percent has been assigned effective from September 7, 2000.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the character of the claimant's discharge and new evidence for reopening claims. The appeal is now in a pending status.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including noise exposure during active duty. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee and hearing loss disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were present during or within one year after service. The Veteran did not have any diagnosed hearing impairment or peripheral neuropathy in his upper extremities at separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of right elbow fracture with scar, have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and chronic tinnitus. After considering all of the evidence, including VA and private audiometric examinations and treatment reports, medical articles and treatises, and statements from the Veteran's private physician and audiologist, the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.