Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty. The appeal is not yet decided on its merits.

The Board found no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current neck, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus disabilities to his military service. The claims for these conditions were therefore denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, thus the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claim for higher initial ratings for headaches and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine remains before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis of the elbows, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right knee condition, and left knee disorder. The decision found no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions that was incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss from May 2, 2011 and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 1, 1995 through May 1, 2011.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is found to be related to his service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, metastatic salivary duct carcinoma (claimed as high grade adenocarcinoma left side), and periodontal disease (claimed as bone loss due to dry mouth syndrome).,For tinnitus, the Board found that it was less likely than not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting bilateral hearing loss did not increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development, including a new VA audiological evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss and assigned a disability rating of 20 percent effective from September 15, 2011. The Veteran's pes planus is rated at 20 percent prior to that date and the residuals of his left ankle injury are also rated at 20 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty training or inactive duty training, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as it existed prior to service and did not worsen beyond its natural progression.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and did not manifest within one year of his discharge from service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss originated in service due to acoustic trauma, and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss, and his initial compensable disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss have also been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss disability are related to his in-service noise exposure, leading to a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his service, specifically the acoustic trauma he experienced during combat. As a result, these conditions have been granted as service connected.