Hearing loss decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were incurred during his active service, based on credible lay statements of symptoms since service and medical evidence confirming current diagnoses.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current hearing loss is etiologically related to noise exposure during his first or second period of active service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these claims.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right eye disabilities in an August 2004 decision, but did not address the Veteran's claims of tinnitus. The December 2005 Board decision declined to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for left eye disabilities.,Since the August 2004 Board decision, new and material evidence has not been received sufficient to reopen the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and right eye disabilities. However, since the December 2005 Board decision, new and material evidence was submitted sufficient to reopen the claim for left eye disabilities.

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

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, heart disease, stroke, seizures, cold injuries to service or any specific exposure. The Veteran's assertions were not credible and his claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VCAA notice and an incomplete VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or significant threshold shift during service. The Board also found that the Eustachian tube dysfunction did not affect the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability did not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is unrelated to service. The VA examiner concluded that it was less likely than not related to any disease or injury in service.

The Veteran withdrew his claim of entitlement to service connection for a hearing loss disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are found to be related to his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not granted as there is no evidence of current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was initially rated as noncompensable, but has since been increased to a 10 percent rating effective January 23, 2006. He continues to appeal for an even higher initial rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be related to his service, specifically due to in-service noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is shown to be causally related to his military service and the claim for service connection has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and psychiatric disorder claims.