Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish service connection for the claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, pyuria/urinary tract infection, and sinus condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date prior to August 4, 2009 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need to consider whether a previous rating decision denying his claim contained clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not attributable to his active military service, and the Board finds that it was incurred in service. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing due to his request. The rating for PTSD and the service connection claim for right ear hearing loss are still pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected due to aggravation by military noise exposure. The acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is not service-connected, but the Veteran has raised a claim for TDIU based on his current disability.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to loud noise, which is established by his job as an auto repair parts specialist. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.,The Veteran reported experiencing ringing in his ears during service and continues to experience it today. The Board finds that the current tinnitus is related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability, and his left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are presumed to be related to service. However, the preponderance of evidence is against finding that these conditions were incurred during active duty.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disorder. The Veteran's current diagnosed conditions are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pseudogout has been dismissed as the issue is moot due to a prior grant of service connection under different terminology.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is currently service-connected, but the Board has determined that additional evidence and an examination are needed to determine if it was caused by noise exposure during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or as a result of his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PFB. The Veteran is seeking a compensable rating for sinus bradycardia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left knee disability or right ear hearing loss, and thus cannot establish service connection for either condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for another VA examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's disability evaluation schedule.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.