Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus disability that is related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence had not been received. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between current hearing loss and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for new VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination and because of outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder and bilateral hearing loss do not render him unemployable due to his disabilities.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA criteria.

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

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss was evaluated as noncompensable, with the VA examiner noting that his current hearing acuity did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in August 2011, with a noncompensable rating effective September 24, 2010. The VA increased the rating to 20 percent effective September 24, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to secure medical records and arrange for examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and left leg burns.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus in the right ear is service-connected. The issues of bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a neck injury are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Pittsburgh VAMC and Orlando VAMC. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. For his left eye disability, the Board determined there was no evidence of superimposed disease or injury during service to warrant service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial, compensable rating for service-connected right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss, but the evidence does not support a connection to his military service. The Board finds that the current hearing loss is more likely due to natural aging changes rather than noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's in-service noise exposure likely contributed to his current bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection is granted.