Hearing loss decisions — 2016

The Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss worsened during his third period of active duty from August 2008 to October 2009, and is presumed to have been aggravated in service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference hearing at the local RO in Lincoln, Nebraska. The issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of left ear infection with hearing loss and bilateral foot disorder are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is considered a disability under VA regulations and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not related to noise exposure in service.,The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be proximately due to or the result of his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which was incurred coincident with service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including audiometric testing and a clarifying opinion from the March 2016 VA clinician regarding exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have initially manifested during service and has continued intermittently since then, meeting the criteria for service connection under presumptive provisions.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for her claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and ear wax build up, as well as her claim for an increased rating for thoracic scoliosis. The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the first two issues prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case for a hearing at the St. Louis RO, and further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus based on in-service acoustic trauma, continuous symptoms since separation from service, and the presumption of chronicity under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also found that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, thus granting service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred or aggravated by service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and military service. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have any complaints or treatment for these conditions until many years after service.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for otitis media, otitis externa, or bilateral hearing loss. The Appellant's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability rating under VA compensation standards.,The Veteran has established service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, both of which are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus prior to a Board decision.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or within one year after his military service, nor were they caused by any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be etiologically related to noise exposure during active service, and therefore granted.