Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, with all doubts resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there was no evidence showing a current disability or a relationship between active service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information in the January 2010 VA audiology examiner's report regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The decision on bilateral hearing loss is pending as it requires additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and a higher evaluation for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine have been denied. The Veteran was found to have no worse than Level I hearing acuity in both ears, resulting in a non-compensable disability rating under DC 6100. For his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, he is currently rated at 10 percent and this rating criteria does not support an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, CLL, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in service, manifest within one year of separation from service or otherwise related to any incident of service, including in-service noise exposure. Therefore, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and fecal incontinence need further development as they may be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for the issues of entitlement to a higher initial rating for adjustment disorder and service connection for a bilateral hand/finger disability. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted as it began during service due to noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of claims for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The reduction of the rating for back disability from 40% to 20% is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his National Guard service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is likely due to his exposure to hazardous noise levels during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral ear hearing loss is granted.

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 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 military service. The most probative evidence indicates it is more likely related to post-service employment at a refinery.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by no worse than Level III hearing in both ears, which corresponds to a noncompensable rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an entitlement to a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not warrant higher initial evaluations as they are currently rated.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not meet the criteria for service connection as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year post-service. The VA examiner concluded that the current hearing loss and tinnitus are more likely due to occupational noise exposure after service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to obtain the appellant's service personnel records and a VA examination for his seizure disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded.