Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has granted the reopening of the previously denied claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and skin conditions, finding that new evidence submitted since the last final rating decision is material to these claims.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral hearing loss disability or tinnitus within one year following service, and the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely as not caused by noise exposure in service. As such, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA audiological examination and treatment records.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is also remanded for further examination and determination of its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board Hearing. The issues of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. After review of all evidence, including VA and private medical records, the Board finds no direct link between the Veteran's military service and his current hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and denied the claim for service connection. The decision also noted that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims of bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The decision found no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have hearing loss in his left ear or tinnitus that is related to service. The appellant's current conditions were first noted many years after service and there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and any disease or injury incurred during service.

Your claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is a result of his period of active service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the hearing loss to military service.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of tinnitus being incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability is currently rated at a 10 percent evaluation, effective May 25, 2004. Prior to that date, the evidence did not support any compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of service treatment records and the need for an examination to determine if the Veteran currently has hearing loss disability, its etiology, and whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and COPD, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The RO granted service connection and assigned noncompensable ratings for the periods prior to March 29, 2005; from March 29, 2005 until November 4, 2008; and beginning November 4, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current conditions. The Veteran's complaints of ringing in his ears during basic training were considered credible, but the absence of contemporaneous medical records and the lack of any probative medical evidence linking his hearing loss or tinnitus to service prevented the Board from granting service connection for these conditions.