Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted with an effective date of May 19, 2008. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date provided by law is May 19, 2008, and denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, and calluses of the left foot. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including an opinion regarding whether his right ear hearing loss increased during service and if so, whether such worsening was due to natural progression.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is not related to his in-service noise exposure and denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his military service, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The earliest diagnosis of these conditions was 65 years after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus disabilities are related to service, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as they are found to be related to his in-service noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for clarifying medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disorder have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has current diagnoses of these conditions and established continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating at any point.

The Board found that the Veteran has left ear hearing loss related to service, but not right ear hearing loss. The eye disability claim was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran does not have hearing loss or tinnitus that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, including exposure to noise during active duty. The evidence is at least in equipoise on whether there was an intercurrent cause of the hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's discharge from his period of service from August 1981 to September 1983 was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which bars benefits based on this period of service. The claims for service connection for various conditions were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to service and he is granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for the other conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, as the evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to his service. The claim for right ear hearing loss is denied due to insufficient evidence of current disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to service exposure to noise. The initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and PTSD are granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss and any related vestibular disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened, but the evidence does not establish a nexus between current hearing loss and in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his hearing loss, tinnitus, and right eye retinal tear.