Hearing loss decisions — 2015

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was noted on entry into service and did not increase in severity during service. The left ear hearing loss disability is not shown to have been present within one year of separation from service, thus precluding presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss did not manifest within one year of service separation and was not diagnosed until after service. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss is less likely related to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

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

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the audiometric testing results do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically exposure to loud noises as a gunner in a tank. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tympanic membrane perforation, as they are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee strain, shoulder strain, shin splints and a skin rash (tinea). The Veteran's hearing loss disability is remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the initial compensable disability rating for COPD with chronic bronchitis. The right ear hearing loss is currently rated as Level IV, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The claims are granted as both conditions are related to service exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected, as it was first diagnosed during active duty and not attributable to an intercurrent cause. However, there is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss for VA purposes.

The evidence shows no worse than Level II hearing acuity in the Veteran's left ear and no worse than Level I hearing acuity in his right ear, warranting a noncompensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not caused by acoustic trauma sustained during his military service, including periods of INACDUTRA or ACDUTRA.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current hearing loss disability and denied his claim for service connection. For vertigo, there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his military service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.