Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for chronic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss disability. The Veteran's claim for a chronic back/spine disorder to include as secondary to a service-connected disability is referred to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining verification of his dates of service in the Air Force Reserve and scheduling a VA audiometric examination.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to excessive noise during his military service, including from F1 fighter jets, KC-135 jet tanks, B52 bombers, other aircraft engines, explosions from mortar and rocket attacks, and small arms fire at firing ranges. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral tinnitus were established by VA examination, and the Board found that there was credible lay evidence supporting his exposure to noise during service. Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, or tinnitus that is attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for bilateral hearing loss from December 10, 2007 to May 11, 2008. Prior to this period and since then, he is not entitled to any compensation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted and is already in effect, thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and granted service connection based on direct evidence. Service connection for tinnitus was also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by his service, including noise exposure during military service. The preponderance of evidence did not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that there is new and material evidence to support the claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability is related to in-service loud noise exposure.

The Veteran's BHL and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service, with the benefit of doubt resolving in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss is considered, along with his assertions regarding exposure during service, to determine whether it was incurred or aggravated therein.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss as per VA standards. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, residuals of a back injury, right knee condition, left knee condition, right hip traumatic arthritis, left hip traumatic arthritis, right leg nerve damage, left leg nerve damage, right hallux malleus (hammertoes), and left hallux malleus. However, the claims are denied as service connection is not established for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations. The Veteran does not currently meet the regulatory requirements for a disability at separation, and therefore cannot establish service connection by submitting evidence that his current disabilities are causally related to service.