Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for clarification of his desire for a hearing and scheduling the appropriate type of hearing.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as zero percent disabling due to the average pure tone thresholds not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.,Service connection is granted for a right knee disability, as the Veteran's current condition originated during his active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to noise exposure during active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss or tinnitus disability that is related to his military service. The VA examiner found no link between any current hearing loss or tinnitus and military service based on the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is denied as there is no current disability meeting the definition of hearing loss under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus has been withdrawn.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and the Veteran's current conditions are not service-connected as they are considered to be due to civilian noise exposure rather than military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of service connection based on credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a current disability for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted. His claim for coronary artery disease has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is causally related to his military service, including noise exposure during his 26-year Army career. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of service connection for chloracne, increased rating for right orbital fracture with related conditions, increased rating for tinnitus, and ratings for hearing loss and sinusitis are pending.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and attempting to obtain SSA disability determination records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of her hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for further development, including another VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board found that there is no showing of a bilateral hearing loss disability during service or post-service, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The tinnitus issue was not addressed due to lack of evidence.