Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left ear hearing loss or head injury residuals for VA purposes, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any of his service-connected conditions, and the Board finds that the appellant does not have competent medical evidence to support her claim. As a result, she is not entitled to burial benefits based on the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's scarring of bilateral tympanic membranes was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and his bilateral hearing loss is not presumed to have been caused by military noise exposure. The Board denied both issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records and other relevant medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed as he requested withdrawal.,Service connection for residuals of a bacterial infection, diagnosed as hemorrhagic fever and claimed as malaria, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and determining if substitution of the appellant is proper. The claim will be adjudicated in light of any new evidence received.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a PTSD examination to assess his current symptoms. The hearing loss and tinnitus claims will also require an examination to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are etiologically related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lung condition remain pending.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet the criteria for service connection as defined by VA regulations.,For the period prior to June 14, 2015, the Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for dermatitis/eczema due to lack of evidence showing more than five percent of his entire body or exposed areas affected.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including noise exposure during basic training. As a result, the claim for service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for a bilateral knee disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is REMANDED due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest during service and is not related to in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right second distal phalanx fracture, bilateral hearing loss, and GERD were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable disability rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding radiation exposure and noise exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and thus denied both claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting left ear hearing loss was aggravated by service exposure to loud noise, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was incurred in service, as his exposure to noise during active duty is conceded and he reported experiencing tinnitus since service. The Board finds that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.