Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a hearing loss disability as defined by VA, and therefore cannot establish service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, with tinnitus being found to be related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his service, as there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service noise exposure and his current conditions. The preponderance of the evidence showed that these disabilities first manifested many years after service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for hearing loss. However, the Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an equipment malfunction in the audio recording of his November 2014 hearing. He will be scheduled for a new video conference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his recent move, and a video conference hearing will be scheduled at a VA location closest to his new home address.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is attributable to noise exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities were denied. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was established as meeting the criteria for a current disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's hearing loss did not manifest during service or to a compensable degree within one year thereafter and has not been shown to be related to service. As such, the claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted with effective dates of May 2000 and February 2012, respectively. The claim for CUE in VA rating decisions has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus for VA purposes, and there is no evidence to support service connection for either condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service and is unrelated to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and the need for additional evidence, including updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding erectile dysfunction. The claims of service connection for diabetes, hearing loss, and left knee disability are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service, including noise exposure. As such, the claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that a Statement of the Case (SOC) must be issued for the issue of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim of service connection for right ear hearing loss. The case will then be returned to the Board if necessary.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, with sufficient evidence supporting a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits and entitlement to an increased rating for tinnitus during hearings held by the Board. The claims of service connection for a dental disorder, to include dental trauma, and for an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss disability remain in appellate status.