Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed bilateral hearing loss did not have its onset during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence to support a finding of continuous symptomatology. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, as secondary to his service-connected left ear hearing loss, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA medical opinion and proper VCAA notice.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was preexisting and did not worsen during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete service records and need for a supplemental opinion regarding his hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that neither a disability shown in service nor a service-connected disability caused or contributed to his demise.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected hearing loss, perforated left TM, and otitis media were denied as there was no evidence of a material change in the severity of these conditions since their last evaluations.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his period of service. The case will be remanded for further review by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied by the Board, as his current level of hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure are denied. The claim for malaria is also denied.,The Veteran's PTSD disability rating remains at 50 percent, but he is not entitled to a higher evaluation. His malaria condition does not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.,Regarding TDIU, the Board finds that there is no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable due to the current audiometric findings not meeting criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to 0 percent, effective March 25, 2010, was proper.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently shown bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not initially manifest during service or for many years thereafter, and no medical nexus linking acoustic trauma during service to these conditions was established. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are not related to his service, including any noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain VA treatment records, conduct examinations, and provide an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of his hearing loss and eye conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus did not worsen during service, and thus denied claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The case is REMANDED for a VA audiological examination, medical records review, and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting his claims for these conditions.