Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with at least equipoise evidence in favor of this determination. As a result, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and is now considering an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination in order to determine the etiology of his current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability, as the Veteran's hearing was normal at separation from service. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, effective from the date of this decision. The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his other service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal of his claim for a compensable initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and left knee disability is denied as there is no evidence showing that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection, and he is now rated at a 10 percent rating for his left ear hearing loss. His left knee disability is also granted service connection, with a separate 20 percent rating for instability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA outpatient records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran requires aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to his active service, with symptoms beginning during service and continuing since then. As a result, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is manifested by no worse than Level III hearing in the right ear and no worse than Level II hearing in the left ear, resulting in a finding of noncompensable disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus the issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss did not originate in service or for many years thereafter and is not related to any incident during active service. The criteria for establishing service connection are met for tinnitus, as it was caused by in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable throughout the appeal period, with no more than Level I hearing acuity in the right ear and no more than Level II hearing acuity in the left ear.

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

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the invalidity of his 1968 separation examination and a need for new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records related to hearing loss and skin disability. The Veteran's claims will be adjudicated again after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain VA medical records and conduct a VA examination. The Veteran's initial evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to January 24, 2015, and in excess of 10 percent since that date remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation. The VA examiner found that the current hearing loss was less likely than not related to service.