Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. As a result, the claims for service connection for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to clarify the Veteran's noise exposure during his National Guard service and to obtain a VA audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, dizziness, and lumbar degenerative disk disease were not causally related to service.,There is no evidence of current disability for any of these conditions within one year post-service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability, at its worst, only resulted in Level I hearing loss in his right ear and Level III hearing loss in his left ear. This did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran claims service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he asserts began in service. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records from prior to 2006 and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the hearing loss meeting the threshold severity under VA regulations. The Board found that his current conditions are not related to in-service acoustic trauma or any other injury during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability under VA standards, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and a disability with vision loss due to additional development being required.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's hearing loss began after he was removed from the noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, inguinal hernia and its residuals, and residual scarring due to inguinal hernia repair.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation from September 6, 2002 to September 25, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues of increased rating for diabetes mellitus, Type II and higher initial rating for service connected bilateral hearing loss are on appeal.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, as evidenced by in-service normal hearing and no symptoms of hearing impairment until many years after discharge.

The Veteran's initial rating for left ear hearing loss was denied, as his current level of impairment does not warrant a higher rating. The case is also remanded to determine if TDIU should be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear at a scheduled Travel Board hearing. He has requested a videoconference hearing instead.

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 has granted a TDIU rating, effective February 18, 2009, based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.