Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that this rating adequately compensates for his disability and does not warrant an increased rating. The TDIU claim is also denied as there is no evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his military service, including noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's hypertension was not related to service, but his current stomach disorder is presumed to have been incurred during service.,His hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to schedule the Veteran for a hearing, and the appeal is now pending before the RO in Newark, New Jersey.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral tinnitus and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected tinnitus and hearing loss.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the Veteran's hearing was normal at separation. The Board finds that his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's current hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year of separation, and the VA examiner found no link between his in-service noise exposure and his current condition. The Board therefore denied service connection for hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causation to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have hearing loss of the right ear to a disabling degree for VA disability compensation purposes and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss and finds in favor of granting service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are due to noise exposure during his military service, including combat in Vietnam. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is competent medical evidence relating these conditions to noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date would be January 21, 2009, when the Veteran filed to reopen his previously denied claim.

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

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left thumb first carpal joint synovitis, finding no current disability for VA purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss is not related to service, and his back condition has no link to service.,Both conditions were determined to be unrelated to military service.