Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The left knee disability is currently unclear as to its nature and etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the obtaining of medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin condition, to include dermatophytosis, was not present for many years after service and is not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a skin condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and reopening of service connection claims were denied. The tinnitus claim was not reopened as there is no new evidence relating to a previously unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The hearing loss claim was also not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The skin condition and back disability claims were reopened, but service connection was not granted.

The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss, tinnitus, or back disability related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his period of active military service, including noise exposure during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has decided that additional evidence is needed and the case is being sent back to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not service-connected as it was not caused or aggravated by noise exposure during his active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The hearing loss claim is remanded due to outstanding records and further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability is rated as noncompensable (zero percent), and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an audiometry examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure. The lumbar spine disability is granted for the period prior to March 30, 2012.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but denied the claim for a bilateral ear disorder to include aerotitus and barotitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of a treatise on delayed onset hearing loss related to noise exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to in-service acoustic trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The decision on bilateral hearing loss disability will be remanded.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right ear hearing loss disability under the VA criteria for such, and thus service connection cannot be granted. The claim for left ear hearing loss will be remanded as the August 2012 VA examination report is insufficient to determine if any current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently manifested by Level VIII hearing in the right ear and Level VI hearing in the left ear, resulting in a 30% rating under VA regulations. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased evaluation prior to July 21, 2010 or in excess of 30 percent beginning on that date.