Hearing loss decisions — 2012

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

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and the Veteran's current conditions are not linked to service. The VA examinations did not find a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service. The Board concluded that the progression from normal hearing at separation to moderate high frequency combined sensory/neural hearing loss on both ears after 32 years post-service is more likely due to other causes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, right thigh contusion, and left foot disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a cold injury, and arthritis were denied as there is no evidence of record that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for high frequency bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the evidence does not show that his disability warrants a compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and related ear disease due to potential in-service noise exposure, conflicting medical evidence, and need for further development of records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not shown to be present during service or within one year of separation, and the VA examiner found no current disability for VA compensation purposes. The Board therefore denied service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to service, while his tinnitus was not related to service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, including both his Army and Air National Guard service. The preponderance of evidence raises a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's hearing loss was incurred during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral (right and left ear) hearing loss based on noise exposure in service. For tinnitus, the Board found that it is at least as likely as not incurred in service due to noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not begin in service and is not related to his military noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for direct service connection. The hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to an outstanding VA hearing request by the Veteran. The Veteran requested a Videoconference hearing before the Board at his RO, and this matter must be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss that is related to his military service. His current hearing loss was first reported many years after service and there is no medical evidence linking it to his time in the military.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on in-service exposure or a link to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and found that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his active service. The claim of an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability, and the Board found that his reported conditions did not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability or tinnitus. The Veteran failed to report for scheduled examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an updated opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has found that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The right ear hearing loss claim remains pending as there was no current evidence of a diagnosed disability.