Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is related to military noise exposure from aircrafts during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea pedis, right ear hearing loss, and headaches have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a new audiological evaluation and considering all evidence of record.

The Veteran's service connection claim for COPD was granted, and he is entitled to compensation based on exposure to environmental hazards during his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other issues were not addressed due to lack of information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a videoconference hearing at the local RO. The issues of service connection and rating remain unresolved.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss disability is not related to his in-service noise exposure and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 18, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it was caused by in-service acoustic trauma and supported by credible lay evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the December 2012 VA examination. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated treatment records and new medical opinions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral high frequency hearing loss, thus denying the reopening of this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and for a new VA examination due to the rapid deterioration in his hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, respiratory disorder (sinusitis and allergic rhinitis), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For tinnitus, while the Veteran has been diagnosed with tinnitus, the VA examiner opined it is less likely than not caused by or a result of military noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to service, thus denying his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The VA examiner is requested to provide an additional addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss, including any threshold shifts during service and current hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities did not originate during his military service, as there was no evidence of a significant shift in puretone thresholds during his period of service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are not related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 20% since August 2, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence supports this rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining issues are also denied as there is no evidence of chronic conditions during or within one year after service.