Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that there is no legal entitlement to such earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and other issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder are granted. Service connection is denied for a left elbow disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability, currently rated noncompensable.

The Veteran's hearing loss is manifested by Level IV in his right ear and Level II in his left ear, warranting a disability rating of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence of current disabilities, and the medical opinions do not support a link to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not sustain a cardiovascular injury or disease during service, and did not experience chronic symptoms of hypertension during service. The pre-existing heart murmur was not aggravated by service, and the pre-existing left ear hearing loss was not aggravated by service. The criteria for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss are not met.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability warrants a 10 percent evaluation, effective from April 16, 2008. The appeal is denied as there are no higher ratings available under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a neck injury. This includes obtaining medical records, conducting VA examinations, and reviewing service personnel records.

The Board finds that the private medical care provided on June 25, 2009 was not rendered in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to the Veteran's life or health. As a result, reimbursement for this unauthorized treatment is denied.

The Veteran's GERD is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. However, the current disorder was not linked to his military service and there is no evidence of a link between other claimed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not service-connected, but has granted a finding of service connection for tinnitus due to exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination assessing the combined effect of all his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, the residuals of hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus in an October 15, 2008 decision. The appellant's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was denied.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by military service, and there was no evidence of in-service onset or aggravation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to his active service, with a grant of service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that his current hearing acuity does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service, including exposure to noise during combat in Vietnam.