Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and found that the Veteran's current disability is related to his in-service acoustic trauma. The issue of an increased evaluation for a macular scar of the right eye remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his period of ACDUTRA service, and grants service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim requires further development as there are conflicting medical opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a hearing disability during service and the current disabilities are not related to service. The VA examination did not find any hearing loss disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.385.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his tinnitus, including whether it is related to service-connected hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a video-conference hearing, and he was unable to attend the scheduled hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic otitis media has been rated at 10 percent since May 7, 2003. The condition is characterized by nearly constant suppuration or with aural polyps.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection. His residuals of shrapnel wound to the right flank have been rated based on current symptoms, but no compensable rating was granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current left ear hearing loss disability in service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including audiometric and scar examinations to determine if service connection is warranted for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a compensable rating for residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right chest.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for hemorrhoids due to lack of evidence establishing a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and arthralgia of the back and right wrist/shoulder were granted. The effective date is not specified as it was a direct grant without reopening an old claim.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus and determined that it is secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran will receive a noncompensable disability rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a right ear hearing loss disability evaluation and an opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the representative withdrew both issues prior to a decision being made.

The VA determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss did not occur during service and is not related to his military service, thus denying his claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but further development is needed to address their merits.

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

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for his service-connected left ear hearing loss is dismissed. The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran has bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus that are reasonably shown to be related to acoustic trauma in service. Service connection for these conditions is granted.