Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including noise exposure during active duty. The claims were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder disability, do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's injuries, including a fracture of the skull and hearing loss/tinnitus resulting from a fall on January 3, 1980, were found to be proximately caused by his own alcohol abuse. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's assertions of a continuity of symptomatology since his active duty support his claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted on an extra-schedular basis prior to January 4, 2013, and on a regular schedular basis since that date due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at 10 percent from August 7, 2009 to April 16, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating during this period.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensably disabling (20%) throughout the appeal period. The Board found no evidence warranting an extraschedular evaluation and denied a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone have not been shown to prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current left ear hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not caused by noise exposure during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, porphyria cutanea tarda (PCD), and PTSD. The Veteran's reports of in-service stressors are deemed unreliable.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss in either ear that meets the criteria for a disability rating under VA regulations. As such, he is not entitled to service connection for right and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral hearing loss is related to active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss due to chronic symptoms during service and noise exposure.,Service connection was denied for residuals of left eardrum perforation as the current condition is not related to in-service disease.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for hearing loss, TMJ and dental disorders, knee disorders, and disorders of the feet. The Veteran's hearing loss was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to be incurred in service and granted. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and to service connection for right ear hearing loss are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and right ear hearing loss are related to in-service noise exposure. However, there is no medical evidence indicating a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The case is therefore remanded to obtain an updated audiological examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability and therefore, service connection for a right knee disorder is denied.