Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during service or as a result of service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The VA has determined that the appellant's current hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service or for at least 40 years after discharge, and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss of the left ear is related to service, while his right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not have their onset during or as a result of his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for hearing loss and denied the claim for a higher initial disability rating for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the issue of service connection for a bilateral foot condition was also denied. The Veteran's hearing loss is rated at 10 percent prior to August 11, 2008, and 50 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, asbestosis, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disability with arthritis. The decision also noted that VA failed to obtain relevant medical records from the Naval Hospital in Astoria, Oregon.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for tinnitus and his bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is causally related to noise exposure during service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of VA audiology records, and a need for a VA examination to assess the current nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Board also found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for VA purposes, and thus cannot establish service connection.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed right and left ear sensorineural hearing loss is not a result of any established event, injury, or disease during active service. The claims are denied.