Hearing loss decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The September 2010 VA examination found that the Veteran has normal hearing through 2000 Hz, with a mild to moderate sensorineural loss from 3000 to 4000 Hz in the right ear and a moderately-severe to severe sensorineural hearing loss from 3000 to 4000 Hz in the left ear. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus is at least as likely as not associated with his hearing loss, but less likely than not due to military noise exposure.

The Board has received notification of the appellant's request to withdraw his appeal, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination regarding his claimed bilateral hearing loss disability and bilateral knee disorders. The issues of service connection are on appeal.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's current diagnosis of lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) is related to her active duty service.,For bilateral hearing loss, the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and her current right ear hearing loss. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected as they had their onset during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and verifying his National Guard status at the time of a 1989 examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and the Board has determined that it is related to his military service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not found, but he must be afforded a new VA examination to determine if he currently has hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing a supplemental VA examination for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, with the latter being proximately due to his now service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain outstanding treatment records and a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active duty service, and they are not otherwise related to his active duty service. Therefore, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his service, as evidenced by in-service noise exposure and current hearing impairment. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence now shows that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma during his military service, leading to current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are service-connected, but his atrial fibrillation is not.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in February 2012, with a noncompensable rating assigned. The Board found that the current disability rating of zero percent is appropriate based on the audiometric test results.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims, as the in-service audiometric findings need to be considered under both ASA and ISO-ANSI standards.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is due to injury superimposed upon his congenital scoliosis during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.