Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has separated the Veteran's bilateral ear disability claim into three separate issues: hearing loss, headaches, and congenital stenosis of the ear canals with otitis externa. After considering all evidence, including VA and private medical opinions, the Board finds that service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss but denied for both headaches and a bilateral ear disability.

The Veteran's chronic residuals of hepatitis C have been granted service connection as a result of his in-service combat exposure to blood and enemy contact.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been established based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to acoustic trauma during combat, resulting from artillery fire and explosions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service, while benign prostatic hypertrophy is not. The claim for hypertension was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD are all service-connected. The pes planus is presumed to have been incurred in service based on the evidence of record. Cerumen impaction was also found to be incurred during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development, including additional examinations and consideration of his service connection and rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain and secure substantial gainful employment, thus the TDIU claim is denied.

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The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn.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.