Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA audiological examination to assess the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is attributable to his military service. The VA examiner found no link between any current hearing loss and military service, and concluded it was less likely than not related to acoustic trauma experienced in service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for left ear hearing loss remains on appeal. The Board has remanded the case to allow further development and consideration of whether a higher rating is warranted on an extra-schedular basis.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as incurred during service. Service connection for joint pain, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness, is denied.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss of the right ear. The claim for service connection for asbestosis is remanded due to lack of response and need for additional development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 20 percent since October 15, 2008. The claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and higher initial ratings for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Veteran's hearing loss was rated as noncompensable. For hypertension, a rating of 10 percent prior to April 6, 2006, and 10 percent thereafter is granted. GERD remains at a noncompensable level.

The Board found no evidence of current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus that is related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus were both granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current tinnitus, which is related to his exposure to loud noises during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a respiratory disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and have not been shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of hearing loss, reopening of service connection claims for COPD and psychiatric disability were denied by the RO. The RO found no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for instability of the right knee is denied as there is no evidence of more than moderate instability, with negative Lachman's and McMurray tests, stability to anterior and posterior varus and valgus stress, and no X-ray evidence of fracture or dislocation. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic arthritis of the right knee remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board found that the current level of disability does not warrant a compensable initial disability rating.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and concluded that the current conditions are not related to military service. The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were attributed to civilian occupational noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss in the right ear, but denied it for the left ear.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, but finds that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service, including any in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, blepharitis and pinguecula of both eyes, headaches, and a skin disorder of the feet were denied as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.