Hearing loss decisions — 2011

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

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he attributes to his in-service exposure to a constant barrage from a 175 millimeter artillery piece. The VA examiner found no evidence of preexisting hearing loss at the time of enlistment and separation, but noted that the Veteran's current hearing loss may have occurred subsequent to discharge. The Board finds the opinion inadequate and remands for a new VA audiological examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and gastrointestinal disabilities, finding no current disability in either case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by significant post-service noise exposure. As a result, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of a valid claim prior to August 17, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was granted, with the exception of his PTSD claim which resulted in a rating in excess of 70 percent. The other issues were resolved favorably.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current hearing loss and his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a service-connected bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, concluding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claims for left ear hearing loss and a skin disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and therefore denied his claim.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as Level III in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. The Board found that the schedular criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between current disabilities and active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the schedular requirements for a compensable rating at any time during the appeal period, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, or a respiratory disability manifested by spots in the lungs to include sarcoidosis that is attributable to her military service. The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was found to be related to treatment for otitis externa during active duty.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability has not been shown to warrant a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of right foot surgery, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The issues were not about service connection at all.