Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in or is otherwise related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was remanded due to inadequate evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and chondromalacia of the right knee, but denied service connection for prostatitis, sciatica, and right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as they are not causally or etiologically related to service, including due to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service and granted service connection for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending as it requires additional development.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and provide the Veteran with new VA examinations for his erectile dysfunction claim and bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is caused by his active military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear as defined by VA standards. Therefore, service connection for right and left ear hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for more contemporaneous VA examinations and the potential existence of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to loud gunfire and a land mine explosion in Vietnam. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

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

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be the result of noise exposure during his active duty service, and he has been granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiological examination is needed to assess the current nature, severity, and functional impact of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, right shoulder strain, right ear hearing loss, and pain disorder with depression were received on March 4, 2011. The effective date assigned is March 4, 2011.,A claim for right shoulder strain was denied in January 2010 but the Veteran did not appeal this decision or submit new evidence within one year of the rating decision. A new claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability was received on March 4, 2011 and granted with an effective date of March 4, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss and pain disorder with depression were denied in January 2010. No new evidence was submitted within one year of the rating decision. A new claim for service connection for these disabilities was received on March 4, 2011 and granted with an effective date of March 4, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for residuals of a traumatic brain injury were denied in January 2010 but the Veteran did not appeal this decision or submit new evidence within one year of the rating decision. A new claim for service connection was received on March 4, 2011 and granted with an effective date of March 4, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran contends that his hearing has worsened since his last audiological exam in March 2013.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his noise exposure during service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss or tinnitus disability for which service connection can be granted. However, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that he has a heart disability due to disease or injury in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been reopened, but the Board is remanding it to allow for further development.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at Level I in both ears.