Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his active service experience.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on the Veteran's consistent reports of noise exposure during service and his continued symptoms since then.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches has been reopened, but the Board is unable to determine if the new evidence establishes a current disability or relates it to service. The other issues are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the lack of service treatment records and the need for a VA audiological examination to determine if the Veteran currently has bilateral hearing loss and its etiology.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to be at least as severe as Level IX prior to June 28, 2007 and Level XI beginning June 28, 2007. The Board denied entitlement to a compensable rating for the period before June 28, 2007 and denied entitlement to a rating greater than 10 percent after that date.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss was found to be at least as severe as Level XI beginning June 28, 2007. The Board denied entitlement to a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorder. The claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus due to incomplete medical records. The case is being sent back for a new VA examination.

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

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are due to in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active duty service.

The Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss have been rated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period. The Board found that the evidence does not support a compensable rating for either ear.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service hearing impairment and concluding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not result from his military service.,The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, attributing it to noise exposure during basic training.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has not warranted a compensable rating at any point during the appeal period, and his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Veteran's last VA examination for his bilateral hearing loss was in June 2014. The Board finds that a new VA examination is necessary due to the lack of sufficient contemporaneous medical records and the Veteran's allegation of worsening symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral and left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Veteran did not have hearing loss during service or within one year after discharge. The VA examiner concluded that any current hearing loss is not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, including his in-service noise exposure and its relation to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral hearing loss disability due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for otitis media, bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus II (due to Agent Orange exposure), right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The claim for reopening of the otitis media claim was granted but service connection is not established.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's self-reported history of tinnitus since service is credible and consistent with his military occupation. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for tinnitus. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.