Hearing loss decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and has granted service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen several previously denied claims. The Veteran was informed of the bases for these denials.

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

The Board finds the evidence to be in relative equipoise, and service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as likely due to exposure to loud noise during service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration records and other relevant evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a service-connected disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board found no current hearing loss disability and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining records from 'L&I' and Western State Mental Hospital.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss was incurred during his military service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted an 80 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss disability effective from February 7, 2008. The Veteran's right ear is rated as Level XI and his left ear as Level IX.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as the appellant did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam during active military duty. The claims were also denied on a secondary basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently manifested by no more than level VII hearing impairment, and the Board has determined that a compensable disability rating is not warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is not attributable to service, as there was no evidence of significant change in hearing during service or shortly thereafter. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability had its onset during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not develop as a result of his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical history.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating for right knee chondromalacia, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus were all denied. The Board found that there was no nexus between the current hearing loss and service, and no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology to service for either hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability of tinnitus and noting the Veteran's in-service noise exposure training but concluding that there is not sufficient evidence to link his current hearing loss or tinnitus to service.