Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The veteran's appeal for service connection for left leg/ankle swelling was withdrawn. The remaining claims were denied as there is no medical evidence of a causal link between the claimed conditions and any incident of service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened based on new and material evidence, but the Board found that his current hearing loss is not related to his military service. The Board also denied service connection for tinnitus.

The veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, hearing loss, eye disability, low back disability and neck disability are being remanded for further development.

The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the veteran has bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus etiologically related to active service.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and bilateral hearing loss as they were not related to the veteran's active military service or secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not support a compensable evaluation prior to January 6, 2006, or an evaluation in excess of 10 percent from that date.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypotension (claimed as vertigo), a low back disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The claim for psoriasis was granted.

The claim for an initial, compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded to obtain additional evidence.

The veteran's combined disability due to service-connected low back and hearing loss disabilities does not warrant the assignment of a TDIU, as his disabilities do not preclude him from holding all types of substantially gainful occupations.

The Board determined that the veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his active duty service.

The veteran was granted a 30 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, effective from the date of service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating to 70 percent for PTSD was granted, while the claims for service connection and reopening of hypertension, heart condition, and bilateral hearing loss were denied.

The veteran's PTSD was granted a 100 percent rating due to total occupational and social impairment.

The appeal is remanded for a Travel Board hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge of the Board.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD does not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating, and bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for Meniere's disease and TDIU, and the Board found no competent evidence linking the current hearing loss and tinnitus to military service.

The veteran's left ear hearing loss was found to not warrant a compensable rating as the evidence did not show that it caused marked interference with employment beyond what is contemplated in the assigned noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of a shrapnel wound of the left upper back, a left arm disability, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with asthma, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disease were denied.