Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to July 2, 2015 was denied. From July 2, 2015 onwards, he is assigned a 40 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation and need for additional examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining new VA examinations and opinions for his hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and asbestosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss at any time before or since filing his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for hypertension have been withdrawn. The Board has found that PTSD is related to his verified in-service stressors, thus granting service connection for PTSD. Service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure remains pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. After a thorough review, the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is found to be causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of VA records.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to June 4, 2013 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no correspondence of record received prior to that date that can be construed as a service connection claim.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability was noted on entry into service and did not increase in severity during service. The left ear hearing loss disability is not shown to have been present within one year of separation from service, thus precluding presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss did not manifest within one year of service separation and was not diagnosed until after service. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss is less likely related to military noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the VA examiner's opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his in-service acoustic trauma, and grants service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as the audiometric testing results do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, specifically exposure to loud noises as a gunner in a tank. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of bilateral hearing loss and tympanic membrane perforation, as they are not related to his military service.