Hearing loss decisions — 2010

The Veteran does not have service connection for Meniere's disease or bilateral hearing loss secondary to Meniere's disease due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his military service, particularly due to noise exposure during service. As a result, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus due to a lack of an opinion linking his current symptoms to service, including noise exposure. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The VA determined that the Veteran's hearing loss in his left ear did not begin during service and is not attributable to noise exposure. The Board agreed with this determination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus were denied, while his left ear hearing loss was granted as a pre-existing condition not aggravated by service.

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

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, hearing loss in the right ear, and loss of teeth.

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

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran currently suffers from a bilateral hearing loss disability and there is reasonable basis to attribute such disability to his active military service. The Board finds that the Veteran has established service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his military service, specifically the noise exposure he experienced during his time on active duty. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination records and the need for another audiological evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is reasonably incurred in active service, but his left ear hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by service. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that these conditions were caused by acoustic trauma sustained in active service.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to June 9, 2005 for the grant of service connection for right ear hearing loss is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, gastroenteritis with GERD, hemorrhoids, and left knee disability were denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss or a rating in excess of 20 percent for his cervical spine disability. He also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from the Texas National Guard and a need for further examination by an audiologist.

The Board found that the Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable, and thus could not establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss as it did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter. The evidence does not show a current disability meeting VA criteria for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to noise during military service. As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.