Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is found to be due to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Board finds the evidence in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a current low back disorder that is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. Service connection was not granted for hearing loss as there were no records of such disability at the time of the decision.

The Board found no evidence of in-service hearing loss or tinnitus, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the grants of service connection for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and lumbar spine disability are not earlier than September 11, 2006.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted, but he is now seeking a higher initial rating. The VA has determined that his current level of hearing loss (Level II in each ear) does not warrant an initial compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition. The issue of bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran, so it is not addressed further.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 10 percent since April 2008. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear did not originate during his military service and is therefore denied.

The Veteran's current hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and cannot be presumed to have been caused by his military service. The Board finds no evidence of a chronic disability during service, and the medical opinions are against a link between the Veteran's current condition and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus) are found to render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the appellant's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and to determine if an extraschedular evaluation is warranted. The appellant was also asked to provide information from his private audiologist, but he did not respond.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence shows a current disability, noise exposure in service, and symptoms of hearing loss immediately after service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, which has been granted a TDIU effective July 16, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are directly related to his active duty service, including exposure to noise from small arms fire.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of left ear hearing loss, and there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to service. The most probative medical evidence weighs against the claim.

The Board has determined that a new VA audiology examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current hearing loss and tinnitus and his military service, as the previous examiner could not provide an opinion without resorting to speculation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn. The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of TBI, including memory loss, migraine headaches and irritability, were incurred in active service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which he asserts began in service due to noise exposure. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional VA treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from the appropriate examiner regarding the etiology of his current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to her military service, with a point of equipoise in favor of service connection.