Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, as he only had Level I hearing loss in both ears.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board granted the initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and established an effective date of December 10, 2003. The TDIU claim was also granted with an effective date of December 10, 2003.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to his active duty service, and concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no valid diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the latter being more likely than not due to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and his anxiety disorder is not related to service. Bilateral hearing loss was not shown by competent medical evidence to be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his active service and was first shown years post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's hearing loss was found to be non-compensably disabling.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service or service-connected dengue fever, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA audiological testing results and relevant treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further investigation and examination due to insufficient evidence of the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

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

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and clarifying the etiology of his right-ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and fungal condition of the groin, feet, legs, and ears.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss, hypertension, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) were not incurred in or related to service. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining whether new evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were incurred during his active military service.