Hearing loss decisions — 2012

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, lumbar spine disorder, and stiffness of joints due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely due to noise exposure during his active service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not originate in or is otherwise related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, finding clear and unmistakable medical evidence that the Veteran entered active duty with pre-existing hearing loss in his right ear. The Board also found no aggravation of this condition during military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain his SSA records, which may contain relevant evidence.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. A sensorineural hearing loss was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The Veteran's appeal to determine if there was clear and unmistakable error in a 1990 rating decision denying service connection for right ear hearing loss disability has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not have a total disability rating for at least ten years prior to his death. The Appellant is therefore not entitled to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 or accrued benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to noise exposure during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for reopening the claims of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and an initial compensable disability evaluation for left ear hearing loss, finding no current evidence of hearing loss in either ear that meets VA criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between current hearing impairment and service. The VA examinations did not support a finding that the disabilities began during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination and the need to address whether his hepatitis B and C (if present) were incurred during service or caused by any incident therein, including use of air gun or jet gun inoculations received in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 24, 1999.

The Board has determined that the right ear hearing loss and Meniere's disease are due to injury incurred in service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further consideration, including an evaluation of his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that right ear hearing loss disability was incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied the claim.