Hearing loss decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of hearing problems during or immediately after service and no continuity of symptoms. The Board also noted that the in-service noise exposure did not cause the current hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service. The symptoms were not chronic in service, did not manifest within one year of separation, and have not been continuous since service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to in-service noise exposure. The claim for tinnitus was granted as credible statements from the Veteran support his belief that he first experienced ringing in his ears during service.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his period of service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical examination.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a formal or informal claim for service connection for hearing loss prior to April 17, 2009. Therefore, the effective date of service connection cannot be earlier than April 17, 2009.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and Meniere's disease as secondary to service-connected tinnitus can be decided.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a more recent VA audiometric evaluation to determine the current level of disability due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran should be provided an opportunity to appear for this examination and discuss any impact on his occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference hearing at the RO. The case will then be processed in accordance with standard appellate practices.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA audiological examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and its functional effects.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that these conditions are due to his military noise exposure.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and a videoconference hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and a VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his service from October 1973 to September 1979.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not have their onset in service or were not aggravated by service. The preponderance of evidence indicated no connection to military service.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include Depression, Anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) as these conditions are not found to be related to service.