Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, prostate cancer (due to herbicide exposure), and erectile dysfunction as secondary to prostate cancer. The Veteran is also eligible for special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a back disability. The case is now remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from 1989 through the present, scheduling VA examinations, and readjudicating the claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating as it is currently evaluated at Level I in each ear, which corresponds to noncompensable disability under VA regulations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include with alcohol dependency, is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial increased rating for bilateral hearing loss from December 9, 2012 is denied. The effective date for service connection of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss remains prior to December 27, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, including conceded noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or causation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his noise exposure during military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and depressive disorder NOS are found to be related to service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, including any in-service noise exposure as a mechanic. The AOJ should also obtain and consider all relevant private treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was evaluated as noncompensable (0%) throughout the appeal period based on his audiometric test results. The Board found that these results did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and he is now service-connected for this condition. The hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, but denied service connection for hearing loss of the right ear and right shoulder disorder. The claim for reopening the right shoulder disorder was also granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied service connection for this condition. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss was rated as Level I, which is noncompensable under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be related to service, and his right shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus, finding that it is related to his period of active duty at the DMZ in Korea. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them prior to a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and are not related to active service. The claim for service connection is denied.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions and determine if there has been any worsening since the last examinations. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.