Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Appellant did not have hearing loss during his period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) from August 1966 to January 1967, and thus could not establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo was previously denied in January 1995, but new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim.,The reduction of the evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability from 20 percent to 10 percent disabling, effective April 1, 2008, was found to be proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and found that his bilateral hearing loss claim was not reopened. The COPD issue is being remanded.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and COPD were all denied by the RO in January 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and the potential availability of additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to unclear audiometric results and inadequate rationale for negative nexus opinions regarding his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran is required to provide clarification of these issues through a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for level VII hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran has current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the most probative evidence indicates these conditions are unrelated to his military service, including specifically to that noise trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss disability increased in severity during active military service from May 2005 to August 2006, and this increase is considered due to aggravation beyond its natural progression.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a back disorder was denied as the evidence did not show that his additional disability resulted from VA treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active duty service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not attributable to his period of active service.

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

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and has reopened the Veteran's claims for left knee disorder. A VA examination is required to determine if a current left knee disorder is related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is manifested by hearing acuity no worse than Level II in each ear, and the criteria for a compensable disability rating are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The VA and private audiological evaluations have consistently shown Level III to VI hearing loss in both ears, warranting a 10 percent rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to his active duty service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 12, 2010 or a rating in excess of 10 percent as of that date. Service connection for a back disability was also denied.

The Veteran is granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The decision is based on the evidence of record without a VA examination.