Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ear hearing loss is granted as his condition is found to be related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss had its onset during active duty service due to combat noise exposure. Service connection is granted for this condition. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was incurred in service or if his tinnitus is related to his service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no credible evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disabilities meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and consider the impact of his hearing loss on his occupational functioning.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was initially evaluated as noncompensable prior to March 5, 2009 and subsequently rated at 10 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any period of time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tympanosclerosis are service-connected, with the cause of these conditions attributed to exposure to acoustic trauma during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his service exposure to noise, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD, thus the cases are dismissed.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastroenteritis, and residuals of a muscle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and found that the Veteran's current headaches are related to his service. The Veteran withdrew from consideration his appeals regarding right ear hearing loss and higher initial evaluations for major depression, right ankle disability, back disability, and left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated by service, and his left ear hearing loss is considered to be incurred in service. Tinnitus is also found to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal of his increased-rating claims for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn by the appellant's attorney.

The Board found that the appellant does not have current right ear hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and thus is not entitled to service connection.

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

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected right ear hearing loss was denied as his current 0 percent disability evaluation is not considered compensable under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the May 2007 rating decision that denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim was denied because there was no medical evidence establishing a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and current hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims is related to noise exposure during active duty and National Guard service. The Board finds the VA examination inadequate and remands the case for a new examination with consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted.