Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, and thus the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, and to reopen his claim for recurrent dislocations of the left shoulder. The decision also noted that he had already been granted service connection for the left shoulder sprain in 1948.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, hearing loss, and PTSD. The decision found no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter, and they are not etiologically related to his military service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric findings consistently showed Level I hearing acuity in both ears throughout the appeal period, which corresponds to a noncompensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6100.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA audiologist or otolaryngologist's review and medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service.

The Board has determined that the total rating termination effectuated by the RO by a rating decision of May 13, 2005, reducing the schedular evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from 100 percent to 10 percent, effective from August 1, 2005, was not undertaken in accordance with or on the basis of consideration and application of the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.343. As a result, the total rating termination is void ab initio and the veteran's entitlement to a 100 percent schedular evaluation for bilateral hearing loss from August 1, 2005, to the present is restored.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence linking these conditions to military noise exposure. The pre-existing left ear hearing loss disability at entry into service is considered a factor against granting service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be related to his military service. His left knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss are not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen his previously denied claims. The decision also addressed other issues such as evaluations for various disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his service dates and obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of stressors related to PTSD and a VA examination for hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's reported history of ringing in his ears since service is credible and demonstrates both a continuity of symptomatology and chronicity of the condition. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence to support a finding that it was incurred during or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty. The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability within one year of discharge and concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss began after separation from service.