Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since June 21, 2007. The Veteran's left foot fracture residuals have not met the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus had their onset during service and are etiologically related to his active service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and VA examinations for PTSD and left ear hearing loss. Service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities are also pending.

The Board has determined that the evidence satisfactorily establishes that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to active service and grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that noise exposure during his military service likely contributed to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not preexist his active service and was not aggravated beyond its natural progression during his period of active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to incomplete medical records. Additional efforts are required to obtain the necessary treatment records, including those from Ms. Jackie Battle and any other sources related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disorder and bilateral hearing loss. The skin disorder claim was denied because no evidence related to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the issue (a nexus between his diagnosed skin disorders and his military service). The bilateral hearing loss claim was denied as there is no causal relationship established between the Veteran's current hearing loss and in-service acoustic trauma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing notification as required by Kent v. Nicholson.

The Veteran's heart disorder, hearing loss, and tinnitus are presumed related to his service due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The case is being remanded to obtain a supplemental VA audiological opinion that specifically addresses the Veteran's credible reports of excessive noise exposure in service and his experience with hearing problems since shortly after separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of in-service acoustic trauma and the current hearing loss did not manifest within a year of separation from service. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss is more likely due to occupational noise exposure after military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is causally related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to his inservice acoustic trauma, and thus service connection for tinnitus is granted. However, there is insufficient evidence to establish a direct link between the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as incurred in active service, and denied the remaining claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private hearing test records from the summer of 1972 and providing a medical opinion regarding whether current bilateral hearing loss is related to service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including medical opinions and examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest in service or within one year of discharge, and is unrelated to service. The claim for service connection was denied.