Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an audiologist examination.

The Veteran seeks a compensable rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss. The Board has determined that a new medical examination is needed to address the current severity of his service-connected left ear hearing loss disability and any other left ear disability found to be related to service, either directly or on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a current VA audio examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining National Guard medical records and verifying his exposure to herbicides. The VA will also schedule the Veteran for a VA audiological examination and podiatric examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no medical evidence showing a relationship between current conditions and in-service noise exposure. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was not addressed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is likely due to noise exposure during service and grants his claim for service connection.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined to be 70 percent disabling. However, the evidence does not show that these conditions alone prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss of either ear meeting VA criteria for a disability. The claim for service connection for hearing loss of the right ear is denied, while the claim for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear is granted based on in-service acoustic trauma and current diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for residuals of ruptured ear drum, including hearing loss and tinnitus. A new VA examination is needed to determine if there are any other residuals of a ruptured eardrum and whether there is a 50 percent or better probability that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his active service, to include his presumed perforated eardrum in service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss, but finds that there is no current disability due to right ear hearing loss which could be related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's current flushing syndrome and associated symptoms are secondary to his contamination during service with jet engine fuel.,Diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, osteopenia, and obstructive sleep apnea are all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected flushing syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as she does not meet the criteria for a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not begin during service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The evidence does not support a finding of current tinnitus or headaches, nor does it establish a link between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were found to have developed following service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and right ear hearing loss are granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced in-service stressors leading to PTSD, and noise exposure during service resulting in current right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed due to the Veteran's complaints of worsening bilateral hearing loss and its impact on his employment.