Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss, which was previously denied in October 2001.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, along with other service-connected conditions, has resulted in a 40 percent disability rating. The Board also granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to his inability to secure and maintain gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current bilateral hearing loss as defined by VA standards, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board finds that this is a new claim separate and distinct from the original claim decided in 1992, and will address this as an initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran also received increased ratings for multiple non-compensable service-connected disabilities prior to September 28, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. His TDIU claim is also denied as there is insufficient evidence to determine if his service-connected conditions preclude him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was found to be noncompensable, as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and determined that it is due to noise exposure during service. The Veteran now has a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and chronic tinnitus are not related to his military service. The evidence does not show any significant noise exposure during service, nor is there any indication of a pre-existing condition aggravated by service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service or within a year after discharge, and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the Regional Office.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss did not undergo a clinically identifiable permanent increase in severity during his periods of active duty for training and active military service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are denied as they do not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ear pain and hearing loss, finding no current disability or evidence of in-service injury that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no nexus between his current right ear hearing loss and service. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not found to be present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for COPD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial increased rating for his hearing loss, as his current level of hearing impairment does not warrant a higher rating under VA regulations. For COPD, the Board determined there is no evidence to support a finding of in-service exposure to mustard gas or other chemicals and concluded that the Veteran's current diagnosis of COPD was not related to service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the minimum percentage requirements for a TDIU. The disability is not shown to prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.