Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for this condition, finding that it was incurred in service due to noise exposure during combat.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% likelihood (equipoise) that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, despite a lack of audiometric findings during separation. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran is not rendered unable to obtain (secure) or maintain (follow) substantially gainful employment as a result of service-connected disabilities for any period.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating prior to December 6, 2010 due to service-connected PTSD and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but the issue of service connection for a left knee injury is not resolved. The Veteran's claim for this condition remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. However, the issue of service connection for tinnitus is being remanded due to a failure to provide a statement of the case (SOC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his current disabilities and service. The Veteran's claim for increased rating was also denied as there is no basis for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disorder, diagnosed as prurigo nodularis and lichen simplex chronicus, and bilateral hearing loss. These conditions are deemed to have had their onset during the Veteran's active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to service, and the Board grants service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for additional development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right lateral epicondylitis (elbow disability), right shoulder rotator cuff disability, and a right ankle disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left ear hearing loss, a back disorder, bilateral upper and lower extremity numbness, chronic migraines, anxiety and depressive disorders, and bilateral hip and knee disorders. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms since service. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss or tinnitus were incurred during service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic sinusitis and headaches, right knee disorder, or left knee disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable since the effective date of service connection. The VA and private audiometry results consistently show auditory acuity levels no worse than Level I in both ears, which corresponds to a zero percent (noncompensable) rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities as secondary to a service-connected disability. The claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the appellant's current conditions are related to his exposure to acoustic trauma during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).