Hearing loss Board decisions

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.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities have been evaluated at the lowest possible ratings, with no evidence of exceptional or unusual impairment warranting higher ratings. The claim for increased ratings is denied.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new opinion from an examiner regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, which are related to in-service noise exposure. Additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his noise exposure during active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, coronary artery disease, and varicose veins of the left leg, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no in-service injury or event related to the cervical spine disability, and thus denied service connection.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be caused by noise exposure during service, as evidenced by inconsistent treatment records and a VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer. The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, right wrist condition, bilateral arm condition, and bilateral leg condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. With reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for entitlement to service connection have been met for both conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that new evidence received since the final November 2009 RO rating decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims. The Board also granted service connection for both conditions based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as his hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown to be related to service. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's hearing loss is more likely due to presbycusis (normal aging process) rather than in-service noise exposure.