Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for tinnitus. The issue of bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and whether it is related to his military service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records, particularly regarding his claimed bilateral foot disability and hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for prostatitis and urinary / renal disability, including end-stage renal disease, status post-transplant. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot ingrown toenail disability was not incurred in or is otherwise related to active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service and obtain his STRs, as well as any outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity to provide details about his in-service injuries and to furnish authorization for the release of private medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they are related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss disability is considered, along with his credible statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms, and the Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise, thus granting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to concerns about the adequacy of a previous medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 12, 2014 for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a claim filed before this date.

The Board finds the evidence in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. As a result, the Board is dismissing the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a nexus between current symptoms and service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for VA examinations and additional development of records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his most severe hearing loss measurements result in a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has been manifested by a hearing loss pattern with no worse than Level I hearing acuity in his right ear and Level II hearing acuity in his left ear. The criteria for an initial compensable rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed right lower extremity disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were not incurred during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.