Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus. The case will be remanded for further action.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current symptoms and service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his current hearing acuity levels.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back injury and found that new evidence received since the May 1994 administrative decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's current low back disability is not considered to be related to his active duty service, as there is no medical evidence showing a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. Service connection for right ear hearing loss and bilateral leg disability was denied due to lack of a diagnosed disability.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability and his service, including exposure to noise trauma therein. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that a hearing transcript cannot be produced and the Veteran wishes to have a Travel Board hearing at his local RO. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that the pre-existing right ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service and did not warrant presumptive service connection due to noise exposure. The left ear hearing loss was not shown within one year of separation from service or during service, and thus could not be presumed. Tinnitus was also not shown within one year of separation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, tinnitus, or erectile dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection for the conditions appealed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities related to service or noise exposure.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted, and the TDIU claim remains pending as it was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is service-connected, and his left ear hearing loss disability warrants a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected.,Bilateral hearing loss was not found to be related to service, but the claim remains pending as it may still be connected through other theories of entitlement.,Right knee DJD and low back disability are both found to be secondary to left knee DJD with effusion, pseudo laxity, and scar. The Veteran's tinnitus is also found to have started during service.,The Veteran's low back disability remains pending as it may still be connected through other theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus and a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions, and the Board found that they are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a contemporaneous VA examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are as likely due to noise exposure in service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.