Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of hearing problems during or within one year after service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and scars from shrapnel wounds to the left calf, ankle, and foot have been withdrawn. The appeal for competency to handle disbursement of funds has also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action, including scheduling a hearing before a Veterans' Law Judge at the local office or by means of videoconference technology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The RO found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of the conditions listed, except for schizophrenia.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, and denied his claim.

The Board found no indication of current hepatitis or hearing loss, and denied the claims for service connection. The claim for PTSD was granted with an initial rating of 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no current disability meeting VA criteria for a hearing loss disability or credible evidence of in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's claimed hearing loss is not shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss are denied as his current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted, with the hearing loss being attributed to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus to an extent recognized as a disability for VA purposes, and therefore, service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated medical opinions regarding his service connection claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The evidence does not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain any outstanding medical records related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hearing loss, and left hand third finger. The claims will be readjudicated based on all available evidence.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected disabilities, and therefore the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's service in the Army and his alleged hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining the necessary records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no worse than Level III in the right ear and Level II in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable (0%) disability evaluation.

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

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service, as evidenced by his noise exposure during training and work in an artillery battery. The VA examiner concluded that the hearing loss was more likely due to natural progression of age-related threshold shifts once the noise exposure ceased.