Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by exposure to hazardous noise levels during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable rating for his hearing loss. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warrants a higher 10 percent disability rating, though no greater, prior to August 9, 2013. Since then, he is entitled to an even higher 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and ischemic stroke have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veterans Law Judge who conducted the hearing no longer being employed by the Board. The Veteran and his representative requested a new hearing at the RO before a currently available Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the Veteran's current hearing loss disability is not considered related to his military service as there was no evidence of a nexus between in-service noise exposure and post-service hearing problems.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 8, 2012, and a higher rating thereafter was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the audiometric results provided.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability had its onset during active service and he is currently diagnosed with gastritis. The Veteran does not have right ear hearing loss for VA compensation purposes, but his left ear hearing loss warrants a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney/bladder condition was previously denied in August 1985 and is now being reopened. The evidence submitted since the last denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim has been denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence that he currently suffers from this disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition (also claimed as allergies) has been reopened and is now considered. The Board finds that the additional evidence received since the November 2006 rating decision relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim, specifically whether the current respiratory condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least in equipoise whether this condition is related to his military noise exposure.

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

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including the reopening of a claim for service connection for ASHD with first degree heart block and the assignment of appropriate ratings for hearing loss. The claims are not currently in a position to be decided on their merits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral ankle degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and credible history of symptoms since service are sufficient to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are service-connected, as they are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen these claims.