Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its clinical onset in active service and is not otherwise related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to his military service. The VA has not provided an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is attributable to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no credible evidence of such during or immediately following service. The preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are more likely due to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training and inactive duty for training, as well as to obtain relevant medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration of an extra-schedular rating for bilateral hearing loss disability and to obtain a supplemental statement of the case regarding service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he claims are related to noise exposure during his military service. The appeal is currently pending due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a finding of disability as defined by VA regulation. Therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that there is no preponderance of evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for an ear disability and bilateral hearing loss, as his current conditions are not related to his period of active service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to a disease or injury incurred in service. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence does not support granting service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The August 2009 VA compensation examiner determined that the Veteran had bilateral high frequency sensorineural hearing loss, but did not find a relationship between his military service and either condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA opinion considering his lay statements and MRI results.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and diabetes mellitus were not incurred or aggravated in service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred. As a result, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to evaluate his claimed bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disorder, and headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding left and right knee disorders. The claims for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and hypertension remain denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current Meniere's disease, right hearing loss, and tinnitus are not etiologically related to in-service noise exposure. The left ear hearing loss was also denied as there is no evidence of a compensable degree of hearing impairment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, inguinal hernia, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, and a depressive psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is related to acoustic trauma during military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was not established.