Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's claimed conditions to his military service and denied all claims for service connection.

The Veteran's hearing loss was not incurred in service and the Board denied his claim for increased rating of his right arm disability. The Veteran's gunshot wound to the right arm with carpal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 40%.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not have onset during service and is not otherwise related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been remanded due to the failure to schedule a video conference hearing as directed in the previous remand.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted due to exposure to acoustic trauma during service and the presence of chronic symptoms of hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an audiological and psychiatric examination to determine if he has a hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and/or PTSD related to service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and to ensure all due process requirements are met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not due to his active duty service, including exposure to artillery fire and helicopters. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his military service, nor can they be presumed to have been incurred therein. The VA examiner opined that these conditions are more likely due to aging and significant occupational and recreational noise exposure post-service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for hearing loss and tinnitus should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and his tinnitus is less likely than not related to service. Therefore, both claims are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus did not have onset during active service, are not related to active service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA criteria. The Veteran's hypertension claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma during service and has current symptoms of these conditions.,Service connection is established for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they are considered to have onset during active military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions are inadequate and remands the case for further clarification. The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, to include as secondary to his hearing loss, will be addressed on remand.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran due to his credible statements of in-service acoustic trauma exposure. The issue regarding bilateral hearing loss is remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to noise exposure during active military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

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