Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in active service due to noise exposure during combat.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination regarding his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claim, as well as issuance of an SOC on the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are not service-connected, but his tinnitus is service-connected.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The claims of vision loss, right ankle disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, hearing loss, sleep apnea, Gulf War syndrome, deviated septum, and cystitis are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including exposure to loud aircraft noise. The current conditions do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection of left ear sensorineural hearing loss, HIV and Hep C are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

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

The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as his current condition is considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disability. The Veteran's claims are supported by competent medical evidence that links his current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his bilateral hearing loss disability did not warrant a compensable evaluation based on the audiometric results provided.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was manifested by no more than average pure tone decibel loss of 25 decibels with 98 percent speech discrimination in each ear, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating her claims. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected, with the decision favoring the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are likely related to noise exposure during his military service, but the medical opinions provided do not conclusively establish this. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral tinnitus is related to his service, including exposure to loud noise during military service. However, there is not enough evidence to support a finding of service connection for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are considered, but the RO determined he is not unemployable due to these conditions. The case is now remanded for further development including obtaining information on his education and occupational skills.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective January 7, 2016. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms prior to this date did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss being due to his in-service noise exposure, and grants service connection for this condition.