Hearing loss decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent and credible in his report of exposure to acoustic trauma during service, experiencing bilateral constant tinnitus during service, and having experienced continuous symptoms since service. Therefore, service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his active service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including in-service noise exposure. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric test results did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation tables.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The back disability was found to be incurred in service, while the hearing loss is not presumed due to noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, but denied his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA audiology examination.

The Board has remanded the case back to the RO for initial consideration of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran, and then readjudication of the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and right knee disability. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current disability. The claims of service connection for asthma and fatigue are remanded.

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

The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for an 80% rating for bilateral hearing loss has been granted, with the effective date set at December 13, 2004.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right ear tympanic membrane perforation, finding no current disability as defined by VA regulations. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence of continuity of symptomatology to establish a link between service and current conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during service or within one year of discharge, and there was no evidence linking these conditions to in-service noise exposure. The VA examination and VHA medical opinion concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to military service.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a failure to fulfill the heightened duty to assist in connection with lost records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be at least as disabling as a 30 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete evidence and procedural issues, including a need for additional VA treatment records, private medical records, and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss are being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.