Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss disability does not warrant a compensable initial rating based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to have existed prior to service but was aggravated during his active duty. As a result, the Board has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not resulted in a compensable rating at any time during the current appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to service, as evidenced by noise exposure during military service. The appeal is granted.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals found no evidence of a current right ear hearing loss disability that is related to service or any other compensable condition. The Veteran's in-service audiograms did not show hearing loss, and his current hearing loss was attributed to his service-connected vestibular schwannoma.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 60 percent effective August 26, 2011. Prior to this date, the condition was not service-connected.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and finds that new evidence received since the last final denial is sufficient to establish a current disability. The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be related to his military noise exposure, including from grenades during training exercises. As such, both claims are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for reopening of tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been remanded. The claim for PTSD remains pending as the service connection theory is considered 'direct'. No rating or effective date has been assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied the remaining issues. Bilateral hearing loss is related to military service, while other conditions are not shown to be connected.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current tinnitus is found to be likely due to exposure to noise during service, while his bilateral hearing loss meets VA criteria for a disability. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence showing a current diagnosis or persistent/recurrent symptoms of hearing loss. The other claims were not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a psychiatric disability (depression) are related to her military service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and heart disorder. The issues are related to whether these conditions are linked to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The evidence does not show that his disability warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and therefore granted as secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence presented since the last final denial. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to military service.