Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and frostbite of the lower extremities. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to service, and his bilateral hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and did not manifest within one year of service discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been remanded due to the need for clarification of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims will be reviewed again based on the provided evidence.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or injury. The VA examiner concluded it was less than 50% likely that his hearing loss disability or tinnitus could be attributed to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The issues of left ear hearing loss and coccygeal contusion are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in active service, nor are they causally related to active service. As a result, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability but denied left ear hearing loss due to lack of current disability as defined by VA standards.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of the submitted medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development of his claims, including VA examinations and the provision of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and tinnitus, as the September 2009 VA audiology examination is inadequate.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent.,Prior to April 14, 2011, his bilateral hearing loss was not compensable. Since then, it has been rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to a need for updated VA treatment records and an additional VA examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to military service, and he is granted service connection. For his bilateral hearing loss, the initial rating assigned was not compensable.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active service, warranting the grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate etiological opinions and potential exposure during active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and peripheral arterial disease are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims.