Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Veteran's tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss have been granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a current tinnitus disorder since onset in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his period of service, thus denying entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hypertension during service or within one year of separation, and there is no competent evidence linking his current hypertension to service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's hearing loss was evaluated as 30 percent disabling, the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss warranted a 30 percent rating since May 27, 2008, but no higher. The evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 15, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee degenerative joint disease were not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing. The appeal is not about service connection at all, but rather other issues related to compensation and rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to her active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending as a VA examination was not conducted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen his claim. The Board also found that the Veteran had a current disability (bilateral hearing loss) and established a link between this condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and to schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or hearing loss disability, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) remains pending.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active service, but his bilateral hearing loss did not have onset during active service and was not caused by active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure in service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing. The appeal is not ready for final disposition.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not have a diagnosed PTSD due to a sexual assault during her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for duodenal ulcer disease. The Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability under VA guidelines, and there was no evidence of severe impairment from November 10, 2004 to November 10, 2005. Since then, the Board found that the Veteran's symptoms were not indicative of severe impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was originally denied in 2006. New evidence received in August 2013, which existed at the time of the original denial, allowed for a reopening of his claim and resulted in a grant of service connection effective December 8, 2004.