Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his current level of disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service or within one year after discharge. The most probative evidence indicated that the Veteran did not suffer from a hearing loss disability during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to military service, specifically noise exposure during active and reserve component service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of hearing loss related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not manifest within one year of discharge from service and there is no medical evidence linking his current hearing loss to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is as likely as not due to in-service exposure to loud noises, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding records and need for further medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing loss disability during service and concluded that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his military noise exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of more than a level I hearing impairment throughout the period from July 2010 to the present.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current tinnitus is related to exposure to loud noise in service. The issue of hearing loss remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss or hypertension during service, and the Veteran's assertions about when these conditions began are inconsistent with his service records. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension is denied.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, and bilateral foot disability was denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have sufficient hearing loss in either ear to be considered a ratable disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active military service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, and there is no credible continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 40 percent since September 11, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss did not begin in service and is not related to in-service noise exposure or to service in any other way.