Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Veteran's current tinnitus is at least as likely as not the result of an in-service event or injury, and therefore service connection for tinnitus has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for service connection for transient ischemic attack was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorder claims. The Board will not make a final decision on these issues until further review.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated appropriately based on the severity of his symptoms and medical evidence provided.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied. The Board finds that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the May 1974 rating decision denying service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his noise exposure during his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a new VA examination for his right hip disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and heart condition have been granted, with the hearing loss receiving a rating of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his military service, including conceded in-service exposure to acoustic trauma.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he contends is related to an in-service incident. The July 2014 VA examination report was inadequate as it did not provide a clear and unmistakable evidence opinion regarding the existence of the condition prior to service or whether it worsened during service.

The Board has determined that additional information is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including for his bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and the Board has dismissed this matter.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.