Hearing loss Board decisions

The VA has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but assigned a noncompensable evaluation as the Veteran's hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected malaria and the etiology of his claimed hearing loss, hypertension, and cardiovascular condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service noise exposure. The claim for left hemidiaphragmatic paralysis was not addressed as it is a separate issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, combined at 90%, do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right ear hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of such during or within a year after service. The claim for service connection for right ear and left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The immediate cause of death was aspiration pneumonia, which had an onset prior to death.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain records of the Veteran's hearing loss evaluation in 2001 or 2002 at the Albany VAMC, and to arrange for a VA examination if necessary. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are found to be related to service, with IBS being secondary to an in-service parasite infestation or PTSD. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right ear hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent for tinnitus has been granted, but no higher rating is warranted. For bilateral hearing loss, the initial increase to a 30 percent rating effective January 31, 2007, was upheld, but no higher ratings are warranted prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluation of his right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board found no evidence of bilateral hearing loss during or shortly after service, and the medical opinion concluded that current bilateral hearing loss is not related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing, clarification of medical information regarding Meniere's disease, and further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for service connection for this condition is therefore denied.

The Board found no evidence of a bilateral hearing loss disability or recurrent tinnitus during the qualifying period of service. The preponderance of the evidence is against establishing an etiological link between the veteran's current conditions and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left axilla were denied as there is no competent medical evidence reflecting that these conditions have worsened in severity.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for further examination and clarification of the examiner's opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.