Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, while his lipomatosis and residuals thereof are not compensable.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 1, 2008, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent on or after that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was incurred during active military service.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from October 16, 2006 to September 3, 2008. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left medial malleolus fracture, and left knee disorder. The low back strain was rated at 40 percent from October 24, 2003, to November 11, 2003, but no higher thereafter.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right leg disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an anxiety disorder as there is no competent medical evidence of record showing current diagnoses or that the disorders are related to active military service.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but denied service connection for right and left ankle, hip, and knee disabilities, as well as a fungal infection of the ears. The claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right foot disorder and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions, nor any evidence linking them to active military service.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence is against service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the evidence supported service connection for hepatitis C, but not for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted. The claim for PTSD was reopened but ultimately denied due to the lack of a valid diagnosis.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent from June 3, 2004 to February 5, 2007 and increased to 50 percent thereafter due to worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The appeal is remanded to obtain private medical records for further evaluation of the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right foot condition, a left knee condition, and residuals of a pulled left shoulder muscle as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or any incident therein.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of May 24, 2004 for the award of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a skin disorder (claimed as chloracne), and moles on the back. The Veteran was also denied a compensable disability rating for varicose veins of the left leg.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it was not shown to be etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was granted a 30 percent disability rating as of January 12, 2008. Service connection for tinnitus and COPD was denied.