Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as defined by VA regulations, specifically failing to meet the auditory threshold requirements of 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to service, as it was present during his active duty and presumed to have been aggravated by service due to congenital syphilis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and further development is required.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under DC 6260. The Board has determined that a higher rating for his tinnitus is not warranted as a matter of law.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, and the Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to grant a compensable rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records, clarifying his representative, and providing a new VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable (zero percent) throughout the entire initial rating period, with at worst Level I hearing acuity in both ears. The Board finds that this level of disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service treatment records and SSA disability records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability for VA purposes and is not related to his military service, including acoustic trauma. The claim was denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current condition.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is related to his military service, as his service records showed normal hearing during service and no complaints or findings of hearing loss until many years after separation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, but the VA examiner found it at least as likely as not that his tinnitus began during military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found that there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss have been granted and assigned a 20% rating, the maximum available under current criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to an initial disability rating of 30 percent for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as per VA's diagnostic criteria. The symptomatology shown upon examination has been essentially consistent and fully contemplated by this assigned disability rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by auditory acuity Level I in both ears, and thus does not warrant a higher initial compensable rating.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss is not related to his active service, including exposure to noise from mortar and rocket attacks in Vietnam.