Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his period of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, as there is relative equipoise of evidence supporting this claim. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that his tinnitus is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss and an increased evaluation for right ear hearing loss. The decision found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and that the current level of disability does not warrant an increase in rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling examinations and obtaining medical records. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not etiologically related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a new examination. The case will be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are found to be related to his active service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are related to his active service, resolving all doubts in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing problems and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied in the May 2009 rating decision. The Board has reopened these claims based on new evidence, but has determined that there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss or nexus between hearing loss and military service. As a result, the claims are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding new and material evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability was found to not warrant a higher rating prior to July 20, 2016 and not exceed 30 percent after that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is at least as likely as not incurred during his active service, and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition on a direct basis.

The Veteran's request for a Board hearing was missed due to lack of notification. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to service, including exposure to noise during his military service. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied all claims, including those for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and organic diseases of the nervous system (other than already service-connected tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss). The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to a service-connected disability was also denied. No effective date earlier than May 29, 2013 for SMC benefits is granted.

The Board finds the Veteran's account of experiencing in-service acoustic trauma and auditory symptomatology to be credible, and concludes that there is a reasonable doubt regarding whether current bilateral hearing loss is related to service. As such, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is granted at a rating of 10 percent.