Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right arm disability, and a lower extremities disability were denied as there is no competent medical evidence of current disabilities related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of hearing loss, tinnitus, or jungle rot of the hands and feet that are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected right ear hearing loss and service connection for cancer of the right tonsil, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated noncompensably (zero percent) disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is as likely as not related to his military service. The appeal regarding hypertension was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 20, 2008 was denied. From October 20, 2008 onwards, the Veteran is entitled to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his right ear hearing loss claim. The left ear hearing loss and shell fragment wound, left eye, issues were also denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claims must be remanded to determine his status at the time of the claimed injury and to schedule a VA examination for an opinion on whether he currently suffers from bilateral hearing loss and left-ear tinnitus related to his active duty for training.

The Veteran's service-connected hearing loss of the left ear does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board finds that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is causally related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a current disability during the presumptive period. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were more likely due to occupational noise exposure and presbycusis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus but assigned a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his condition is found to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as moot due to the assignment of a 100% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective April 3, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a tumor of the left parotid gland and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss, as it was not shown that the condition is related to service or herbicide exposure. Service connection for the tumor of the left parotid gland was also denied due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is proximately due to his service-connected otitis media, and granted his claim. However, there was insufficient evidence to support a finding of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchial asthma and bilateral hearing loss were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, concluding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 10 percent since February 10, 2009. Prior to that date, the condition did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no medical nexus between these conditions and his military service.