Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The current medical evidence does not adequately address the Veteran's assertions about in-service noise exposure and post-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by mild memory loss, sleep impairment, hyperarousal, anxiety, and some occupational impairment. The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for PTSD under Diagnostic Code 9411.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his hearing loss disabilities and left inguinal herniorrhaphy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disability in the right ear, and that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss was no worse than Level II, resulting in a noncompensable rating. His left inguinal herniorrhaphy was rated as well-supported by truss or belt, warranting a noncompensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by her active duty service, and thus she is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his bilateral hearing loss was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his current hearing loss disability is found to be related to in-service acoustic trauma.

The Board has granted a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss from August 7, 1973 to June 30, 1974. The Veteran's appeal was previously denied prior to this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, as well as an increased rating for his right forefoot disability. The Board has found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's tinnitus is related to active duty service, but finds no such equipoise on the issue of bilateral hearing loss or the right forefoot disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for any of the conditions he claims, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board found no evidence of a link between the Veteran's in-service noise exposure and his current hearing loss disability, and thus denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability prior to September 15, 2010 did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this jurisdictional issue.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, which he asserts began during his military service. The VA examiner found that the current bilateral hearing loss disability is not related to service due to normal hearing at separation and noise exposure in service did not cause the current condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new medical opinion regarding whether his current hearing loss manifested during or as a result of active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to address the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted, but her claim for an initial compensable evaluation for her abdominal scar is denied.