Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 30, 2012, for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease has been granted. The effective date is set at January 31, 2011.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, carpal tunnel syndromes, and kidney failure. The evidence submitted since the final decisions raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or a threshold shift in hearing during service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current conditions are due to service.

The Board has determined that the Appellant did not serve in active duty for training or active duty, and therefore is not considered a veteran. As such, he cannot establish service connection for any of his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's hearing loss is etiologically related to his military service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not addressed due to a lack of evidence and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, with noise exposure during active duty. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst scar is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period. His bilateral hearing loss has been found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right ear hearing loss, did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU during the period from September 27, 2005 to May 29, 2008. The combined rating of 60% was insufficient to warrant a TDIU under VA regulations.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the most probative evidence does not demonstrate a need for such a rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service noise exposure.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus, and concluded that any current conditions are not related to service. The Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are attributed to post-service occupational noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and the case is dismissed as he no longer wishes to proceed with his claim.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is, therefore, REMANDED as directed below.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The claims for GERD and hiatal hernia are pending as they may be related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and that there has been no continuity of symptomatology since his period of service. The Board also noted that the Veteran was exposed to noise during service, but this exposure is not considered sufficient to establish a link between his current hearing loss and military service.