Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service exposure to loud noise, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, myofascial pain syndrome, neurological disabilities of the right and left lower extremities, and depression. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a request for a video-conference hearing. The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, seizures, and sleep apnea are pending.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and records in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are service-connected, with doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by active service, as there was no evidence of hearing loss within one year after discharge and the medical opinions did not support a connection to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with continuity of symptoms since service. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a copy of his DD Form 214 and scheduling an audiologist examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated as 10 percent disabling since October 26, 2010. The VA examiner found that the Veteran had no worse than Level IV hearing in both ears.

The Veteran's initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted at 50 percent, effective January 31, 2011. The Board found that the current evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is as likely as not related to active duty service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The left ear hearing loss was also found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, heart disease (coronary artery disease), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD). The claim for sinusitis was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated at 10 percent since December 31, 2012. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss for VA purposes and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service, specifically noise exposure from gun firings and aircraft. As a result, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an audiometric examination. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, and service connection for type II diabetes mellitus are being addressed.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of continuous symptoms since service separation. The most persuasive medical opinion found that the current conditions are less likely due to noise exposure during service.