Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with the Board finding that both conditions were incurred in active service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final May 2005 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are related to his in-service noise exposure, and service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and right ear hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected, but his left ear hearing loss was aggravated during combat service in Iraq.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, including noise exposure during active duty. As a result, both conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The RO assigned a noncompensable evaluation prior to March 20, 2014 and a 10 percent evaluation thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, PTSD, and left knee arthritis. The Board denied service connection for left elbow disability and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 5, 2013 for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus were denied.,Service connection was not granted for a bilateral hip disorder or skin disorder (including jungle rot of the ears).,There is no evidence of current disabilities related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for a new VA addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by medications prescribed for his service-connected osteoarthritis of the knees.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied due to his own willful misconduct in the motor vehicle accident of April [redacted], 1975. The Board found that none of the conditions claimed were related to active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated at 50 percent since June 23, 2010. The Board finds that the current rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including issuance of Statements of the Case and scheduling a videoconference hearing. The issues include rating an increased disability for bilateral pes planus, service connection for various disabilities, and review of a reduction in rating for plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted, with a rating of 10% each effective July 13, 2009. The maximum schedular rating under the applicable criteria has been assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an extraschedular evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether the disability has markedly interfered with his employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is attributable to service, specifically noise exposure during military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is found to be due to his active military service and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss for VA purposes during the appeal period, and therefore, service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss was not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records.