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 active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in equipoise to warrant a finding that these conditions are etiologically related to service. The Veteran's back/neck disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities (claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome) require further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to service, but the claim for tinnitus was denied due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied, but he is granted service connection for tinnitus secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional VA audiological examination and medical opinion to determine if he has a current hearing loss disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a current VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss and multiple lipomas, sebaceous cysts, and an epigastric hernia were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The RO continued the initial noncompensable rating, then granted a 10 percent rating effective January 26, 2006, and proposed to reduce this to 10 percent effective March 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus was first manifested during active duty service and has persisted since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depression, was incurred in active service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not begin during his active service and is not etiologically related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and scheduling issues for a Travel Board hearing. The claims are currently remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to a failure of the Veteran to appear for an examination scheduled in conjunction with his original compensation claim. The Veteran will be afforded one additional opportunity to appear for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing loss or tinnitus during service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding noise exposure in service have been discounted due to lack of supporting medical records.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not support a finding that this condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.