Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing the Veteran with proper notice regarding his petition to reopen a claim for service connection for hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher noncompensable (zero percent) rating.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and residuals of a right ankle sprain.

The claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective date were partially denied; the Board found that a 20 percent rating was appropriate between November 30, 2004 and August 7, 2008 for his low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, lung disease, and residuals of exposure to solvents, thinners, and paint due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board restored the 10 percent disability rating for carpal tunnel syndrome, effective October 3, 2005. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and color vision loss.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD, diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, onychomycosis and psoriasis, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities was denied as a matter of law.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus as the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension as they were not incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the evidence showed that the final disallowance was in January 1991 and the date of receipt of the application to reopen was September 30, 2005.

The appeal for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss was denied, as the Veteran's hearing impairment did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The claim for service connection for glaucoma was also denied.

The Board denied the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left foot disability as new and material evidence was not presented to reopen them.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma or his service-connected otitis media.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and depression, as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against a nexus between the current disability and any incident of service, including combat noise exposure.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's right ankle disability and also denied service connection for hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no credible medical evidence linking his current condition to in-service noise exposure.

The Board denied service connection for schizoaffective disorder, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, chest pain, gastrointestinal disability, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Veteran was also denied a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.