Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The VA denied an increased rating for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board dismissed the motion for clear and unmistakable error because the moving party did not provide sufficient details about the alleged errors or how they would have changed the outcome.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be incurred in service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected residuals of a left ear infection with scarring of the tympanic membrane and left ear hearing loss, finding no legal basis for an increased rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service or within the applicable presumptive period. The preponderance of the competent medical evidence is against a nexus between current bilateral hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in his right ear due to a lack of evidence showing that he currently has a disability or that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he does not have current diagnoses of the claimed conditions and his dysthymic disorder was not caused or exacerbated by military service. The Veteran also does not have residuals of a head injury, including blackouts.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, and his claim for service connection for vertigo is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically related to service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for TDIU was received on March 4, 2005. The effective date of this grant is set at March 4, 2004, based on the evidence showing his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment as of January 9, 2003.

The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to acoustic trauma sustained during active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with no presumption or other special theory of connection applied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his exposure to noise trauma in service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to unclear evidence regarding his employability.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted and assigned a 50 percent evaluation for the period prior to June 1, 2006.