Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining audiogram results and VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also part of the pending appeal.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for PTSD and determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting right ear hearing loss was aggravated during his period of military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to service, and his peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities is also found to be related to service. The appeal for the upper extremities' condition has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. With resolution of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that his current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is as likely as not related to noise exposure during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred during service, specifically due to combat-related noise exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, which he claims was caused by noise exposure during his military service. The VA examiner found no shift in hearing during his years of service and did not provide an opinion on whether the current hearing loss occurred sooner or progressed due to in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure. The right ear hearing loss claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his claim for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The right ear hearing loss claim was denied in October 2001, and no new and material evidence was received during the subsequent appeals period. The left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable due to its mild nature. Peripheral vascular disease claimed as circulatory disorder has not been linked to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss disability, as well as the severity of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection and a 100 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence prior to September 24, 2010 that supported these claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active military service, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating or additional service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, so the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to his military service, resolving doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating or service connection for any of the conditions listed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hearing loss disability, finding new and material evidence. Both conditions are now considered to be related to active duty.,Service connection is granted for right knee traumatic arthritis.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not otherwise related to service.