Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied as his audiometric results did not show an exceptional pattern of hearing loss and the functional impairment caused by his hearing loss is contemplated by the assigned zero percent rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are found to be related to his active service, with the Board resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus disability were not incurred in or related to his military service, including due to noise exposure. The VA examiner concluded it was less likely than not that these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by noise exposure during service, and his tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service. Therefore, both conditions are granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. However, both conditions were found not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychological disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new opinion from an audiologist regarding the Veteran's hearing loss and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as anxiety disorder, was found to be related to his military service. Bilateral hearing loss is also attributable to military service. The claim for tinnitus remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to be related to his noise exposure during active duty, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, including on a secondary basis to his service-connected tinnitus.

The November 1993 RO rating decision denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the absence of evidence showing a current disability during or within one year after service.

The Veteran's death was not directly or proximately related to his service-connected disabilities, including diabetes and hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal regarding the effective date for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, including based on clear and unmistakable error in a February 1971 rating decision. The case is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records, as well as further development of his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss and left varicocele disabilities, as well as ongoing VA medical records.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and concluded that the current bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to service. The Veteran's contentions were considered but outweighed by the medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, skin disease, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), and Parkinson's disease are still pending.