Hearing loss decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as they were not shown to have been aggravated by service or pre-existed service entrance with no increase in severity during service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is at least reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence of record is insufficient to establish these conditions as being related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to noise exposure during service, thus granting the claims for service connection.

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

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and posttraumatic arthritis of the right ankle were not granted service connection, as there was no evidence of chronic disability during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for updated VA audiological examination and treatment records review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's combined service-connected disability evaluation of 90 percent effectively precludes him from securing and following substantially gainful employment due to his PTSD, right shoulder disorder, bilateral hearing loss, knee disabilities, tinnitus, and left shoulder residuals. TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is related to in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to service and the claim for service connection has been granted. The right ear hearing loss disability remains unresolved as no rating assigned or effective date provided.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is not service connected as it does not appear to be related to his military service or a pre-existing left ear hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability and tinnitus were not shown to be related to service, as there was no evidence of such conditions during or immediately after his military service. The Board found that the current disabilities are more likely due to occupational noise exposure and other factors.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his active duty, while the current evidence does not support a finding of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral tinnitus, finding that it had its onset during active service and is related to noise exposure. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as zero percent disabling, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted based on the audiometric test results provided.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that his credible and competent lay statements support a diagnosis of tinnitus. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is not properly before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA audiological examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of in-service noise exposure or any current disability within one year of discharge. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus were less likely due to acoustic trauma incurred during military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.