Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to have resulted from service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by military noise exposure, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as the evidence is in equipoise, with no significant preponderance of the evidence against the claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service noise exposure and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a grant of service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, as new and material evidence has been received. The case is now remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his active duty service, including noise exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his exposure to military noise during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further consideration due to outstanding medical records and the need for a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are at least as likely as not related to his in-service noise exposure, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus in January 2007. The Veteran's claims were not reopened, as new and material evidence was not presented to support these claims. Service connection for a right shoulder disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition has been reopened, but the Board denied his claim as new and material evidence was not submitted. His claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 8, 2012; in excess of 40 percent from February 8, 2012 to March 28, 2012; in excess of 20 percent from March 28, 2012 to February 20, 2015; and in excess of 40 percent on and after February 20, 2015 was denied.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability was withdrawn, and thus the issue is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing an increase in severity during service and no credible evidence linking post-service symptoms to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the new evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA audiologist.

The Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to service and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for service connection.