Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Veteran's migraine headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hearing loss, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of hearing loss, tinnitus, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric disorder are not related to his military service. The claim for service connection is denied.

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

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing before a member of the Board to be held at a local VA office. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and reopening his claim for dental trauma are pending.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for consideration as a disability, and his claim for service connection is denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for herpes simplex based on credible evidence of in-service onset.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred in active service, with the evidence being in equipoise. Therefore, both conditions are granted as service connected.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for left ear hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure. However, there is no current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current hearing disabilities are not due to in-service noise exposure.,Specifically, the evidence did not establish a compensable right ear hearing loss disability within one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his active duty military service, with both conditions being granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of left ear hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disability. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back injury to obtain additional evidence, including Reserve service records and VA outpatient treatment records. The claims will be adjudicated on the merits after this development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus, finding that there is sufficient evidence to support these conditions as being incurred in active duty service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of continuous symptomatology since service or a nexus between his current conditions and service. The Veteran reported noise exposure during service but also significant post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, updated medical records, and further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and a need for additional evidence. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining an adequate VA examination and considering all available records.