Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has restored the service connection for bilateral hearing loss, with a 30 percent rating, and denied the severance of service connection for right ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, effective January 26, 2005. The rating was granted based on the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 9411 of the Rating Schedule.

The Board found that the reduction of a 60 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss to 40 percent was proper, as evidenced by improved hearing acuity and functional impairment. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death from pneumonia and heart disease. The claim for DIC benefits is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left shoulder degenerative joint disease, but denied service connection for the claimed left pinkie finger disability due to lack of a nexus between the current condition and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his in-service exposure to noise, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disorder was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee disorder. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be related to his in-service exposure to noise, and service connection for this condition is granted. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss must be denied by law due to the absence of a current disability. Service connection for an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety) is granted.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right inguinal hernia are rated as noncompensable. For the period on appeal, his bilateral hearing loss is considered incurred in or as a result of active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for tinnitus. The claim for hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a hearing and disagreement with the denial of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his military service. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability had its onset during his period of active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, as evidenced by his exposure to hazardous noise during active duty and the presence of high frequency hearing loss in service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military service, raising a reasonable doubt in favor of the claim. As such, service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, which meets the criteria for a disability under VA standards, is causally related to his military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports the claim for service connection.