Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining National Guard service records and verifying periods of active duty, active duty for training, or inactive duty for training. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus in his right ear and granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative facet joint L5-S1 with bulge, lordosis, and spondylosis (back condition). The other issues were not addressed as the appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely as not attributable to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by no worse than Level II hearing in the right ear and no worse than Level III hearing in the left ear, resulting in a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus should be December 5, 2008 as this is the date the Veteran's claims were received by VA.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to in-service acoustic trauma and aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's inability to attend a scheduled videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The RO found that the Veteran had Level I hearing in both ears, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no new and material evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss in either ear arose during service or is causally related to active combat service. The Veteran and his wife have provided lay statements of their hearing loss shortly after service, and the examiner should consider these when forming an opinion.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, clarifying audiometry reports, and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's appeal is now pending again with the RO/AMC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to active service and granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was addressed in a separate REMAND.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of new medical records submitted by him. The issue remains about his combined rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as evidenced by a lack of in-service noise exposure and normal hearing at separation. The VA examiner found no evidence of acoustic trauma during service and concluded that the current audiometric findings do not support a finding of service connection.

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