Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his active service and the Board finds that he has established service connection for this condition.

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

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia, gastritis with erosions, and Crohn's disease since March 28, 2013. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable. Service connection was established for perianal fistula, allergic rhinitis, residuals of a deviated septum, and folliculitis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and hypertension are service-connected, but his left shoulder disability and back disability cannot be linked to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not begin during or were otherwise caused by his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims, including the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, including exposure to acoustic trauma during combat. As such, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran is granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as these conditions are related to his military service. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied due to lack of current evidence meeting VA's criteria.,Service connection is also granted for Raynaud's disease and vasospastic disease of both hands, which the Veteran contends were caused by cold injury during service.

The Veteran's claim for additional compensation for a dependent spouse was denied as he did not provide the necessary information within one year of notification and his effective date is March 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, thus the claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, GERD, and TBI were denied. Service connection was granted for cervical spine disability with a 10% rating effective July 16, 2009, and lumbar spine disability with a 10% rating prior to November 28, 2011, and a 20% rating thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability has been evaluated as noncompensable since the date of service connection. The VA examiner found that his hearing loss did not warrant a compensable rating based on the Maryland CNC speech discrimination test results and pure tone thresholds.

The Veteran's appeal is mixed, with some issues granted and others not. The 30 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss disability from August 9, 2012 was granted, but the issue of a higher rating prior to that date remains on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are likely due to his exposure to noise during active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service. The VA examiner opined that it was less likely than not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with no improvement in his condition over the years. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during active service.