Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence showing a link between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition, as well as the significant time lapse since his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not attributable to service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus of the left ear and initial rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Board found no evidence linking current left ear tinnitus to service, and there was no competent opinion supporting a nexus between current bilateral hearing loss and service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred therein. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his hearing impairment did not warrant a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure and finds that it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was granted at a 10 percent rating effective July 24, 1998. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in his disability rating beyond this initial evaluation.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss had its inception during active service due to his exposure to acoustic trauma during combat. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. The VA medical examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss is not caused by or a result of his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and did not reopen the claim for left knee disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initially compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence of record. An additional VA audiological examination is needed to determine the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, but his skin cancer is not. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the skin cancer and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss or tinnitus disability during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.