Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (0%) due to the presence of Level VI hearing loss, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss is related to his service and grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to in-service acoustic trauma, and thus grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is as likely as not related to his active military service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during his third period of active duty in Iraq. As a result, the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional evidence, including a VA audiometric examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for service connection as it was not shown to be related to his active military service, including in-service noise exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by his service and may not be presumed to have been due to noise exposure during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to November 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, including as due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability. As a result, the claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an audiological evaluation and clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a sebaceous cyst, low back disability, right hand disability, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's appeal was not successful in any of these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bilateral hearing loss disability, but finds in favor of service connection for neck disability, headache disability, and disability manifested by numbness of the fingers in both hands due to in-service injury. The claims are granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service, including noise exposure. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his hearing loss began in service or within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn at a Decision Review Officer Conference.,The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left shoulder, right ankle, or left ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee have been denied. The Board found that new evidence submitted since the February 2002 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims, as there is no current diagnosis of hearing disability in either ear or tinnitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected, and his left ear hearing loss was evaluated at a non-compensable rating based on the average puretone threshold in the left ear.

The Veteran withdrew all claims on appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is due to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.