Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss to active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that prior to June 17, 1998, the appellant was not unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, an earlier effective date for the TDIU rating is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be service-connected. His bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, while his tinnitus was granted service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to service and grants service connection for this condition. The Board also finds that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's hemorrhoids and his military service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The RO found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher schedular evaluations under applicable diagnostic codes.

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 private medical records and Coast Guard Reserve personnel records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verifying alleged exposure in service and obtaining medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, including noise exposure during military service. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation training under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code due to a lack of evidence showing medical infeasibility or serious employment handicap during his period of basic eligibility.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable prior to December 27, 2008 and does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent beginning on that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records from Tuscaloosa VAMC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. The Board found no evidence of these conditions during his period of active military service or within the one-year presumptive period after separation. For the right shoulder, ankle, hip, and knee conditions, there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to have originated during active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, including acoustic trauma sustained as a tank crewman while on active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have verified stressors for PTSD, and there is no evidence of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus related to service. As a result, the claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim. The issue of a higher initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as it involves a new rating decision.