Hearing loss Board decisions

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment provided at Grays Harbor Hospital beginning on March 27, 2009 are granted due to the emergent nature of his condition and the unfeasibility of using VA facilities.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and chronic otitis media were found to be service-connected, with the latter condition aggravated during service.,The Veteran also has a bilateral knee disability that was found to be service-connected.

The Board denied claims for service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as right ankle and right knee disorders. The Veteran's applications to reopen these claims were not successful.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion, requiring a new VA audiological examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the medical likelihood that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to military service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and a review of the claims file to determine his current disability ratings and whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further consideration.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, cardiac arrhythmia, hypertension, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran does not have arthritis that is attributable to military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his audiometric test results have consistently shown no more than mild to moderate hearing impairment, which does not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss prior to September 30, 2004 was manifested by pure tone audiometry test results averaging no greater than 20 for either his right or left ears, corresponding to designation A for both ears. Therefore, he is not entitled to a compensable rating.

The Board found no evidence of hearing loss in service or within one year after discharge, and the Veteran's current hearing loss is not linked to his military service. The claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to effective dates prior to November 17, 2004 for service connection were denied as the records submitted by him in conjunction with his current claim did not support earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, left knee disorder, and right wrist disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been withdrawn. The remaining claims of service connection for disorders of the lumbar spine, knees, feet (claimed as joint pain), and chronic fatigue syndrome are dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergy and bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as there is no current evidence of a disability or persistent symptoms related to these conditions. The Board found that the Veteran did not have allergies, and his hearing loss disability could not be presumed due to noise exposure in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left ring finger injury, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all service-connected. The Veteran's current conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.