Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to service or tinnitus, and denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, as it has been more than six years since his last VA examination in January 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling error for an in-person hearing at the RO. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are service-connected due to noise exposure in service. However, his migraine headaches pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after service. The VA examiner opined that the disabilities were more likely due to civilian noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected hearing loss and whether he developed hypertension within one year of separation from honorable active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his service, and denied both his claim for service connection for a low back disability and his request for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be remanded as additional development is needed.

The Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability as defined by VA regulation and the evidence does not support service connection for tinnitus. The Board finds that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic upper respiratory disability was reopened and granted. The right hand lacerations with associated numbness were rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss or left knee disabilities, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his active service. Service connection is granted for all three conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have been incurred during active duty service, and the claim for this condition is granted. The hearing loss disability issue remains pending as it does not involve service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, specifically noise exposure. As such, these claims have been granted.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, left knee disability, and right knee disability was granted. However, the Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for any of these conditions.,Service connection for hemorrhoids was also granted but with a noncompensable rating.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing VA treatment records and a need for another examination of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

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

The Veteran does not have residuals of hepatitis or hearing loss related to his service. His bilateral hearing loss was granted, but the Board found no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no evidence of hearing loss meeting VA criteria throughout the appeal period. The claims for right shoulder, thumb and ankle conditions are remanded for further development.