Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was incurred in active military service, while right ear hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus were not.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an eye disorder (visual impairment), a left leg disability, a right leg disability, a left arm and shoulder disability, a right arm and shoulder disability, and the residual effects of chemical exposure, to include paints, as there was no evidence suggesting that any of these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, as it results in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disability do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not show that his hearing loss disability met VA criteria for a service-connected condition.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a condition manifested by dizziness and uneven steps as they were fully resolved in favor of the Veteran with the grant of service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as effective dates prior to certain dates.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied because the evidence does not show that he currently suffers from a hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn, and service connection for tinnitus was granted.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected due to noise exposure during active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation and that sensorineural hearing loss is not a radiogenic disease.

The Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal for any of the issues related to service connection, and the Board is without jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current conditions and his military service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a skin disability, to include chloracne.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, as there was no evidence of in-service hearing loss or a nexus between the current condition and active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant ratings in excess of the currently assigned levels. However, a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected conditions has been granted.