Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral ruptured eardrums with chronic ear infections, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between current conditions and military service.

The Board found that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest until many years after service and are not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board determined that the May 1966 reduction of the disability rating for hearing loss was proper and denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is assigned a 10 percent rating, and his bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent from August 30, 2001 to January 7, 2005. The appeal for increased ratings was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are rated at a maximum of 50 percent, effective September 2004. The Veteran is granted an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected headaches and denied a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical information linking the appellant's bilateral hearing loss to his military service. The appellant is requested to provide medical records and undergo an audiological examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since March 15, 2005. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus due to combat-related acoustic trauma during service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year after separation and the medical evidence does not support a link between service and the condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis was granted, with a current rating of 20 percent effective January 19, 2006. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was also granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depressive disorder, all related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of his request for a DRO hearing.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, while the scars on his face warrant a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for reopening his right ear hearing loss claim and denying an increased rating for left ear hearing loss. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now rated at 10% from May 25, 2007. The effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was set at August 29, 2001.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied. His claim for an increased rating of PTSD from May 20, 2008 was granted with a 50% disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by military service, as his pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.