Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they were caused by noise exposure during his active military service.,However, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a finding of service connection for the low back disorder due to an injury sustained while on active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for high cholesterol, bilateral eye disability (claimed as dry eyes), right lower extremity disability, hearing loss, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for VA compensation purposes, his bilateral eye disabilities are not related to herbicide exposure, and he has not provided competent evidence of direct causation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and granted service connection for this condition. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The most severe audiometric results corresponded to a level I designation, warranting a noncompensable disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, chronic low back pain discogenic disease with clinical radiculopathy, cervical myositis, a right leg disability, chronic gastritis, and chronic anxiety disorder. The decision also remanded issues related to service connection for low back pain discogenic disease with clinical radiculopathy, cervical myositis, a right leg disability, chronic gastritis, and chronic anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss are service-connected, but his bilateral ankle disability, neck pain, skin cancer, and other conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for service connection and a rating assigned for headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disorder. The issues of increased ratings for PTSD, DDD of the lumbar spine (including left lower extremity radiculopathy), and right shoulder rotator cuff and panlabral tear are still pending.

The Veteran's pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure during service, resulting in a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Board granted service connection for the condition based on this aggravation.

The April 2010 rating decision granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and assigned a 50 percent disability rating, effective from November 20, 2009. The Veteran now seeks an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during combat in the Korean War. Therefore, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have resulted from service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by military noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the evidence is in equipoise, with no significant preponderance of the evidence against the claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a grant of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.